2o8 NATURAL SCIENCE. March. 



Ducklings. — The pecking co-ordination was imperfect. When a 

 piece of white of egg was seized it was mumbled rapidly and shaken 

 out of the bill unswallowed. Towards the close of the day they began 

 to swallow what they seized, but the pecking co-ordination was not 

 quite perfect. They were at first very unsteady on their legs (more 

 so than the chicks) and tilted over backwards on to their tails. One 

 scratched its head, but toppled over, the double co-ordination of 

 standing on one leg and scratching its head was more than it could 

 manage. They walked several times through the water placed in a 

 shallow tin, but took no notice of it. I dipped the beak of one of 

 them in the water ; it then drank repeatedly, shovelling up the water 

 with characteristic action. Presently the others imitated the action 

 and drank freely. I dropped, at different times, two ducks into a 

 tepid bath. They kicked vigorously and excitedly, dropping their 

 excrement, but in a minute swam about with easy motion, pecking 

 at marks on the sides of the bath. 



Second Day. — Chicks. — Several ran repeatedly through the water 

 in a shallow tin, but took no notice of it. Then, after about an hour, 

 one of them standing in the water pecked at its toes. It lifted its 

 head and drank freely with characteristic action. Another subse- 

 quently pecked at a bubble near the brim and then drank. The 

 stimulus of water in the bill at once led to the characteristic respon- 

 sive action. Others came up and pecked at the troubled water ; they 

 too then drank. Later on one was running and toddled into the tin ; 

 it stopped at once and drank. Wet feet seemed to suggest drinking 

 by association. 1 placed two winged flies before them. One chick 

 seized a fly at the first stroke. Another followed the second fly and 

 made three pecks at it, but the other chick rushed in and caught it at 

 the first stroke. A large winged fly thrown among other chicks was 

 approached by one bird which gave the danger note (a very 

 characteristic sound). Subsequently the same chick followed it and 

 caught it after several bad shots. They pecked about equally at four 

 kinds of grain, millet, canary, groats, and pari ; but swallowed more 

 of the millet. They also pecked at and swallowed sand grains. 

 I took one of the chicks and put it down near a young cat. The bird 

 showed no signs of fear. 



Ducklings. — Both ducks made at once for water in shallow tin, 

 drank and squatted down in it. They ate keenly of white of egg, 

 swallowing large morsels, the pecking co-ordination being nearly 

 accurate. Both scratched their heads occasionally and toppled over. 

 They preened the down, especially of the breast, in characteristic 

 fashion ; they also applied the bill to the base of the tail and 

 rubbed the sides of their heads along the back in quite approved 

 duck fashion. They stood up stretching out their necks and flapping 

 their wings, sitting down on their tails from imperfect co-ordination. 

 They showed much less accuracy of aim than the chicks in 

 catching running flies. The abortive attempts were numerous. 



