Mallard Duck Art Print by John James Audubon

An archival premium quality art print of the Mallard Duck by John James Audubon for sale by Brandywine General Store. The artist painted this duck for his ornithology book, The Birds of America, written during the earlier part of the 19th century. This picture shows two males and two female ducks, with one of the young females reaching up for a snail, this group of ducks are shown in a wetland area. The mallard duck was picture or plate Number 221 in the first Havell Edition. Audubon says the following about the mallard duck "Although it is commonly believed that the Mallard is found abundantly everywhere in the United States, I have received sufficient proof to the contrary. If authors had acknowledged that they state so on report, or had said that in the tame state the bird is common, I should not have blamed them. According to my observation, and I may be allowed to say that I have had good opportunities, this valuable species is extremely rare in the wild state in the neighbourhood of Boston in Massachusetts; and in this assertion, I am supported by my talented and amiable friend Mr. NUTTALL, who resided there for many years. Farther eastward, this bird is so rare that it is scarcely known, and not one was seen by myself or my party beyond Portland in Maine. On the western coast of Labrador none of the inhabitants that we conversed with had ever seen the Mallard, and in New-foundland the people were equally unacquainted with it, the species being in those countries replaced by the Black Duck, Anas fusca. Audubon bird print #221