222 A DEVOTED COUPLE. 



all solely with an 63-6 to the lady ; and the love season over, the 

 gentleman at ones begins to doff his gay attire, and soon appears 

 in the same unassuming russets and grays as his bride. 



The manners of this beautiful bird are remarkably gentle and 

 loving. Once mated, they are mated for life ; even in confine- 

 ment they constantly move about together ; and the death of one 

 gives rise to the most obvious and unmistakable signs of grief in 

 the other. Dr. Bennett in his " Wanderings " tells a story of a 

 loving couple, in which this mutual attachment was very strik- 

 ingly exhibited. The beautiful drake was stolen one night, while 

 his less attractive partner was left behind. The following morn- 

 ing the poor duck was seen in a retired part of the aviary brood- 

 ing and disconsolate, evidently sorrowing over her loss. Whilst 

 in this condition a gay and prim drake whose partner had been 

 accidentally killed net long before, made up to the disconsolate 

 duck, and made a thousand endearing overtures. But it was all 

 to no purpose ; the duck refused all his offers, and moped and 

 brooded still ; she neglected her food ; her plumage became 

 ragged and dirty ; and she Avas evidently fast falling a sacrifice 

 to conjugal fidelity and affection. But after about three weeks 

 had passed the stolen drake was recovered and brought back. 

 He no sooner recognized the aviary in which he had previously 

 lived, than he quacked vehemently and clapped his wings with 

 delight. His partner received him with the greatest joy : they 

 quacked in concert, crossed necks, bathed together, and were 

 perfectly happy. But mark the sequel. The happy pair had not 

 long been reunited before the recovered drake furiously attacked 

 the too attentive widower, pecked out both his eyes, and left 

 him so maimed that he died within a few days afterwards ! 



In China the Mandarin Duck is regarded as the symbol of 

 conjugal fidelity, and as such is usually carried in their marriage 

 processions; but whether the newly married couple invariably 

 learn the lesson which is thus emblematically set before them 

 may be open to question. But certain it is that the Chinese 

 attach the highest value to the bird, and it is with the utmost 

 difficulty that specimens can be obtained by foreigners. Not 

 Jong since, indeed, a gentleman, writing to China for a pair of 

 the birds, got as his reply, that in the present disturbed state of 

 the country it would be much easier to procure a pair of Man- 

 darins than a pair of Mandarin Ducks ! 



