ANATID.E. 505 



would be a pity to destroy so handsome a bird.' ' How, 

 then,' said another, ' can we dispose of it ] ' Tlie hut was 

 noted, as it was immediately suspected that the lost Man- 

 darin Duck was the suljject of conversation. A servant 

 was sent, who, after some trouble, recovered the lost drake 

 by paying handsomely for him, and he was brought back 

 to the aviary in one of the usual cane cages. As soon as 

 the bird recognized the aviary, he expressed his joy by 

 quacking vehemently and flapping his wings. An interval 

 of three weeks had elapsed since he had been taken away 

 by force ; but when the poor forlorn duck heard the note 

 of her lost husband, she quacked, even to screaming, with 

 ecstasy, and flew as far as she could in the aviary to greet 

 him. Being let out of the cage, the drake immediately 

 joined his spouse ; the happy couple were again united. 

 They quacked, ci'ossed necks, bathed together, and then 

 are supposed to have related all their mutual hopes and 

 fears after theii' long separation ; the female, in a most 

 ungrateful manner, informing her drake of the gallant 

 proposals made to her by the widower during his absence. 

 It is merely a supposition that she did so, but at all 

 events the result was, that the recovered drake attacked 

 the other the day subsequent to his return, pecked his 

 eyes out, and inflicted on him so many injuries as to occa- 

 sion his death in a few days." — (D}'. Bennett's " Wanderings 

 in New South Wales,'' vol. ii. page (U.) 



