l3A INDIAN DUCKS 



Their food appears to be mainly animal, and consists of shell- 

 fish, water-insects, prawns, and shrimps, and practically all or any 

 of the small animal life found on the shores at low tide or in 

 shallow water. A small amount of vegetable matter is doubtless 

 eaten now and then, but merely as one takes vegetables with a 

 meat diet. 



Of course, they are not good to eat ; which of the animal-feeding 

 ducks are? And Hume says even skinning has no effect. It is 

 certainly not to be expected it would have much, as flavour, unlike 

 beauty, is more than skin-deep, though skinning has with many 

 birds a certain amount of good effect. 



