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- 
1 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 observation on this point is 
required. 
