Gould described this illustration as 'a spirited and beautiful sketch taken by Mr. Wolf from the living birds in the Gardens of the Zoological Society'.
Gould watched the mandarin ducks breeding there during the spring and summer of 1851. He noted how in late summer the drakes 'colourful plumage changed to drabness but by October they had regained their full colours. He also admired splendid young males of two broods which he saw swimming and perching on the trees. Gould observed that the tradition of the mandarin duck's life partnership appeared to be true, for they consistently moved about in pairs: 'The manners of this pretty species appear to be as gentle and loving as its dress is gay and beautiful, on which account... it is regarded by the Chinese as an emblem of conjugal fidelity.'
The finished lithograph by Richter is of an oval design but is almost identical to Wolf's watercolour. One background detail by Wolf is omitted in the plate, - the lone drake on the branch facing right towards the centre of the picture.
DISTRIBUTION: Eastern Asia: southeastern Siberia and south Kuril Islands south through Korea, northeastern China and Japan. Winters south to southeastern China and Taiwan. Small feral resident population in Britain