DUCK 169 



Countries, Greenland, Iceland, Lapland, and Siberia. Most of those 

 which fill our markets are no doubt bred in more northern climes, 

 but a considerable proportion of them are yet produced in the 

 British Islands, though not in anything like the numbers that used 

 to be supplied before the draining of the great Fen-country and 

 other marshy places. The Wild Duck pairs very early in the year 

 — the period being somewhat delayed by hard weather, and the 

 ceremonies of courtship, which require some little time. Soon after 

 these are performed, the respective couples separate in search of 

 suitable nesting-places, which are generally found, by those that 

 remain with us, about the middle of March. The spot chosen is 

 sometimes near a river or pond, but often very far removed from 

 water, and it may be under a furze-bush, on a dry heath, at the 

 bottom of a thick hedge-row, or even in any convenient hole in a 

 tree. A little dry grass is generally collected, and on it the 

 eggs, from 9 to 11 in number, are laid. So soon as incubation 

 commences the mother begins to divest herself of the down which 

 grows thickly beneath her breast-feathers, and adds it to the nest- 

 furniture, so that the eggs are deeply imbedded in this heat-retain- 

 ing substance — a portion of which she is always careful to pull, as 

 a coverlet, over her treasures when she quits them for food. She 

 is seldom absent from the nest, however, but once, or at most twice 

 a day, and then she dare not leave it until her mate after several 

 circling flights of observation has assured her she may do so un- 

 observed. Joining him, the pair betake themselves to some quiet 

 spot where she may bathe and otherwise refresh herself. Then 

 they return to the nest, and after cautiously reconnoitring the 

 neighbourhood, she loses no time in reseating herself on her eggs, 

 while he, when she is settled, repairs again to the waters, and passes 

 his day listlessly in the company of his brethren, who have the 

 same duties, hopes, and cares. Short and infrequent as are the 

 absences of the Duck when incubation begins, they become shorter 

 and more infrequent towards its close, and for the last day or 

 two of the 28 necessary to develop the young it is probable 

 that she will not stir from the nest at all. When all the fertile 

 eggs are hatched her next care is to get the brood safely to the 

 water. This, when the distance is great, necessarily demands great 

 caution, and so cunningly is it done that but few persons have 

 encountered the mother and offspring as they make the dangerous 

 journey.^ If disturbed, the young instantly hide as they best can, 

 while the mother quacks loudly, feigns lameness, and flutters off to 

 divert the attention of the intruder from her brood, who lie motion- 



^ When Ducks breed in trees, the precise way in which the young get to the 

 ground is still a matter of uncertainty. The mother is supposed to convey them 

 in her bill, and very likely does so, but further obseiVation on this point is 

 required. 



