BLACK-BILLED WHISTLING DUCK. 397 



them ; and I believe this must be soon after 

 they are hatched; for I camiot suppose she can 

 carry food and water for them into such a place ; 

 it being not known that any birds of this kind 

 ever feed their young. [See Wilson, on the Sum- 

 mer Duck.] However, I believe the young ducks 

 may jump out of such a cavity ; for a day or two 

 after they have been hatched, they have been 

 known to jump out of a barrel, and far above 

 that height." (MSS. ii. 85.) 



'^ The Whistling Duck endeavours to save her 

 young, when pursued, by throwing herself into the 

 man's way ; that is, by rushing up so close to 

 him as to draw his attention, that her young, who 

 are very active, may have an opportunity of es- 

 caping. Accordingly, the man, seeing the duck 

 so near him, looking upon her as a much better 

 prize than the young ones, leaves pursuing the 

 ducklings, and endeavours to catch the subtil 

 dame, who runs before, but takes special care to 

 keep out of his reach ; yet stopping in front of 

 him, occasionally, to make him renew the pur- 

 suit, till the young are entirely out of danger; 

 when she flies away, leaving her pursuer to fret 

 at his double disappointment. This I had from 

 a person of credit, who affirmed that himself was 

 thus deceived. The Whistling Duck is very hard 

 to catch, if its wing only is disabled ; and will 

 outrun a man, if he be not very nimble. 



" The Whistling Duck breeds numerous in the 

 morasses of Westmoreland; in such places they 

 remain all day, and in the evening disperse them- 



