TtlE SWlJmiNG, OR NATATORIAL GROUP. 159 



water filled to the brim and sunk in the 

 ground will suffice for the first week or ten 

 days, and this rule is more especially to be 

 adhered to when they are under the care of a 

 common hen, which cannot follow them into the 

 pond, and the calls of which when there they 

 pay little or no regard to. Rats, weasels, pike, 

 and eels, are formidable foes to ducklings ; 

 we have known entire broods destroyed by the 

 former, which having their burrows in a steep 

 bank around a sequestered pond, it was found 

 impossible to extirpate. Chickens which tra- 

 verse the fields and farmyai'd, and are at all 

 times more exposed to obsei'vation escape 

 many dangers that assail ducklings. These 

 accidents excepted, ducklings are easily reared ; 

 they soon pick up worms, slugs, and insects, 

 and may at first be fed on meal of any kind 

 mixed with boiled potatoes crushed fine. In 

 their selection of food they exhibit no fas- 

 tidiousness, and require neither penning up 

 nor cramming, to acquire plumpness. It has 

 been well observed that they eat as if they 

 considered it their duty to prepare themselves 

 for the table, and give no trouble about it. 



To a kitchen-garden, in the autumn or 

 summer, when they can do no mischief by 



