THE DUCK. 397 



into a larger floating-pen, called a sampane, which has 

 a broad bottom of bamboo, with a gallery round, above 

 the river, and a bridge declining towards the water. An 

 old and experienced step-mother is provided to lead them 

 down, and attend them when feeding: these old birds 

 are so well trained, that at the given signal in the even- 

 ing, they return in the utmost haste with their young 

 broods. This signal is a whistle, on the sound of which 

 the whole flock sets itself in motion, waddling in regular 

 order towards their boat. The first Duck that enters is 

 rewarded with some favourite food; the last is whipped 

 as an idler : so that it is a comical sight to see the last 

 birds, as if knowing what will happen to the last of all, 

 making efforts to fly over the backs of others, and get 

 on board the boat in time to escape punishment. 



We should be surprised to see our domestic Ducks 

 perch amongst the branches of trees, adjacent to their 

 roosting-places, and there pass the night ; but though 

 this seems impracticable for our species, there are, never- 

 theless, many others of the wild sort, that not only roost 

 perching, but rear their young in trees. Captain Cook 

 was surprised to find the Whistling-Ducks doing so, near 

 Endeavour River, in New Holland ; and in various parts 

 of the world similar nests are found in these unexpected 

 situations. 



In America, the Anas sponsa, or Summer-Duck, builds 

 in the hollows of trees, at a considerable height from 

 the ground, from which the young ones, soon after they 

 are hatched, descend and make the best of their way to 

 the water. The Wood-Ducks, also an American species, 

 are continually to be seen, during the breeding season, 

 flying between the upper parts of the Mississippi and 

 the woods where they build. Our common Wild-Duck, 

 in a similar manner (though, according to the general 

 habit of those birds whose young leave the nest as soon 

 as hatched, she generally deposits her eggs upon the 

 ground), at times departs from this practice, and follows 

 the example of the above foreign species. 



