266 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



throwing out a bit of bread, they scrambled for 

 it and tussled with one another, much as tame 

 ducks do. Then, as soon as other ducks at a 

 little distance perceived that feeding was going 

 on, they joined the troop, and before long several 

 hundred wild ducks were under the windows of 

 this hotel, affording an unusual sight. 



The waiter, noticing my interest, informed me 

 that this result had been brought about because, 

 in order to prevent accidents to guests, one of the 

 rules of the establishment was that no firearms 

 should be discharged in the vicinity, from any 

 point on the wharf, or on the adjacent waters. 

 Not the least curious part of this incident is that 

 the same kinds of ducks, only a little distance 

 away in the bay, say a mile, were so extremely 

 wild, that it was difficult to approach them. I 

 believe that probably some of the individuals 

 observed as so wary, were the very birds that, 

 when in the vicinity of the building, lost all sense 

 of fear. I am inclined to believe that they dis- 

 criminated that danger ensued from the approach 

 of men in boats, and that in the vicinity of the 

 inn nothing was to be feared. 



During the same spring when the Ward's 

 herons were obtained, I also procured a brood of 

 four young sparrow-hawks, from a deserted wood- 

 pecker's hole in a palmetto. The birds were just 

 beginning to feather. They were kept under 



