174 Henry, Paradise Duck al Resolution Island, N .Z . [,^t \,",ii 



the rough coast to the shelter of Pigeon Island. When I got 

 home the two Ducks with four young ones were on the beach ! 

 They were tiny little things, the colour of the sand, with two 

 dark stripes down their backs. How did they manage to get up 

 such a day as yesterday ? Of course there was only half a 

 clutch, but it is wonderful that they brought any in such rough 

 water and against the wind, for while I was looking at them a 

 gust nearly blew them all into the scrub, they were so light. 

 They would not let me near enough for a photo., but went 

 in the rough water, so that I had to come away and leave them, 

 but they stayed in sight of my window all the afternoon. The 

 drake devoted his whole attention to protecting them. He 

 seemed not to eat a morsel himself, though there was plenty of 

 food on the beach in stranded mysis. More than half his time 

 he was after the Wood-Hens, for there was nearly always one 

 peeping out behind some bush or stone in case a young one 

 would come near enough to be grabbed. That night (22nd) 

 was awfully rough from the south-west, with squalls and roaring 

 hail storms about every hour, and so cold that I had to get 

 another blanket. I did not expect to see any young Ducks in 

 the morning, but planned to be up early for a dead one to get 

 its photo. I saw the mother settling for the night on the cold, 

 stony beach, afraid to go in the scrub for shelter. With the 

 glass I saw that she had her wings so low that the little ones 

 could stand on the quills. In the morning the whole of them 

 were at the door and the young ones busy plucking the grass. 

 With perfect confidence they brought up their precious charges 

 and presented them at the door — about the greatest compliment 

 I was ever paid, for these are real wild Ducks in their natural 

 state, and at this time of year are independent of the food I 

 give them. They saw that I was friendly, and trusted mc. 

 But think of the intelligence it required for them to understand 

 that so clearly. 



By the 25th the drake has not half the trouble with the 

 Wood-Hens. He has a single note, a new note to me, which he 

 uses like a sentinel. It means, " I am on duty, keep wide," and 

 the Wood-Hens obey promptly, for all of them that live here have 

 had a few lessons. The duck has also a new note to call his 

 attention, but she does not need to use it often. When she does 

 so, it is like an electric shock to him, for he jumps on the wing 

 ready to fight anything. When the little ones are coming 

 through the narrow place on to the grass he knows it is dangerous 

 and keeps right over them while they are passing. I think he 

 would have protected the whole family of twelve if he could have 

 brought them up that rough day, his attention is so keen and 

 constant. Yet the first day I saw the performance I thought he 

 had a hopeless task, and that he might as well give it up. Fancy 

 some imported Duck trying to rear a family here, without his 



