356 THE WILD DUCK. 



the length of whose chain it would have been dangerous for a 

 stranger to have ventured ; but notwithstanding his apparently 

 savage disposition, a brood of Ducklings, reared in the yard in 

 which he was kept, soon became so fond of him, that when- 

 ever, from his barking, they apprehended danger, they would 

 rush towards him for protection, and seek shelter in his kennel. 



A farmer's wife had a young Duck, which by some accident 

 was deprived of its companions, and from that moment seemed 

 to concentrate all its affections on her. Wherever she moved, 

 it followed her so closely that she was in constant fear of 

 treading upon and crushing it to death. As it grew older, its 

 affections seemed to strengthen rather than diminish ; it laid 

 itself by the fire and basked on the hearth, and when noticed, 

 seemed delighted ; this continued till some other Ducks were 

 procured, when, being constantly driven out of the house, it 

 gradually associated itself w r ith its more natural companions. 



Another case was that of a pair of Muscovy Ducks which 

 were landed at Holyhead, from a Liverpool vessel returning 

 from the coast of Africa. The male was conveyed to a gentle- 

 man's house in the neighbourhood, and introduced to a flock 

 of Ducks; but to them he manifested the greatest indiffer- 

 ence, and was evidently pining at the loss of his mate, when 

 one day she too was brought up and turned loose ; for a short 

 time, being engaged at a distance, he did not see her : but 

 when, on turning his head accidentally, he caught a glimpse of 

 his well-known companion, he rushed towards her with an 

 earnestness and affection which quite touched those who 

 witnessed the meeting. Nothing from that moment would 

 induce him to quit her, and he manifested his joy at the unex- 

 pected reunion, by twining his neck on hers, nestling it under 

 her wing, and gazing at her with eyes expressive of extreme 

 delight and satisfaction. 



There is another Wild Duck deserving of mention, from the 

 value of the down upon its breast, which is carefully collected 

 by those who rear these birds, and dispose of their produce at 

 a very high price. The bird we speak of is the Eider Duck. 

 And well may it have a warmer underclothing than most other 

 Ducks, born and bred, as it is, amidst the most dreary and 



