398 



DUCKS. 



hatched under the parent bird, and others under a domestic hen, the latter 

 hatching the eggs two days in advance of the former. The eggs are of a creamy 

 brown colour. These birds are regarded Ijy the Chinese as emblems of conjugal 

 fidelity, and are usually carried about in their marriage processions, a dis- 

 tinction of which they are by no means unworthy, as is abundantly proved by 

 the following anecdote. 



"A drake of this species was stolen one night, along with some other birds, 

 from the aviary of Mr. Beale, of Macao, of which mention has already been 

 made. The beautiful male only was taken, the poor duck was left behind. 

 The morning following the loss of her husband the female was seen in a most 



I'lG. 196. — The Wild Dlck {.-litas Bosc/uxs). 



disconsolate condition, brooding in secret sorrow in a retired part of the aviary. 

 While she was thus giving herself up to grief, a gay prim drake, who had not 

 long before lost his dear duck, which had been accidentally killed, trimmed 

 his iieautiful feathers, and appearing quite handsome, pitying the forlorn con- 

 dition of the bereaved, waddled towards her, and after devoting much of his 

 time and all his attention to the poor lady, offered her his protection ; she, 

 however, refused all his oft'ers, having apparently made a solemn vow to live 

 and die a widow if her mate did not return. From the day when she met with 

 her loss she neglected her usual avocations, her plumage became ragged and 

 dirty, she was regardless of her appearance, forsook her food, and no consola- 

 tion that could be ollcrcd had the least effect. Some time had elapsed since 

 her bereavement, when a person accidentally passing a hut overheard some 

 Chinese of the lower class conversing together, and understood sufficient of 

 their language to know that one said, ' It would be a pity to destroy so hand- 

 some a bird.' 'How, then,' said another, 'can we dispose of it.'" The hut was 

 noted, as it was immediately suspected that the lost Mandarin duck was the 



