COMMON DUCK. 41 



The sides were perpendicular, but there were small resting- 

 places under the bank which prevented them being drowned. 

 The size of the place they were in Avas about eight feet 

 square, and in this small space they had not only grown up 

 but thrived, being fully as large and heavy as any other 

 young Ducks of the same age." In from eight to ten weeks 

 after they are hatched, the young are able to fly. 



Progress toward Maturity. — The young, when fledged, 

 resemble the female in colouring. I am unable from observa- 

 tion to say when the young male first assumes the full plum- 

 age of its sex ; but it appears to be at the end of its first 

 autiman. 



Remarks. — Our Domestic Ducks are evidently the ofi"- 

 spring of the Wild Mallard, greatly degenerated as to activity 

 and beauty of form, as well as of plumage, but improved, as 

 the agriculturists say of an unwieldy ox incapable of stepping 

 over a gutter, in bulk and susceptibility of fat. Tame Ducks 

 lose their native delicacy of feeling, the sentimentalism of 

 their affections, and instead of pairing for life, or at least for 

 the season, become unprincipled socialists, every Drake taking 

 as many wives as he can get. The Mallard is not singular 

 in being thus vitiated by civilization : all thoroughly domesti- 

 cated quadrupeds and birds being similarly changed. 



