THE TAME DUCK. 459 



he also was acquainted with them in the wild state only. His 

 positive evidence would not be worth much, if the translator 

 of Rabelais was justified in characterizing the " Varia Historia" 

 as the production of " jElian, that long-bow man, who lies as 

 fast as a dog can trot ;" but his negative testimony may prove 

 something. In Book v. 33, he describes how the Ducklings, 

 unable to fly, and to escape by land, avoid the attacks of 

 Eagles by diving. Tame Ducks would hardly be in much 

 danger from Eagles, whatever mishaps wild ones might be 

 liable to ; although, from the frequent mention of these 

 plunderers in classic authors, there certainly is reason to be- 

 lieve that they were much more abundant while the great 

 part of Europe remained uncivilized, than they are now. And 

 in Book vii. 7, after having given the signs of the weather de- 

 noted by wild birds, in which he includes Ducks and Divers, 

 he proceeds to mention those afforded by Cocks and Hens and 

 other domestic birds. 



Supposing it, however, to be proved that the Tame Duck is 

 a comparative novelty in the West, it by no means follows 

 that it is so on the Asiatic Continent and Islands, nor, as a 

 corollary, that it is a tamed descendant of our Mallard. If 

 the skeletons of one and the other were placed side by side, it 

 would require, not a skilful comparative anatomist, but only 

 an observant sportsman, or even an ordinary cook, to point out 

 which was which.* Nor has sufficient weight been attached 

 to the circumstance of one bird being polygamous, and the 

 other monogamous. When we come to speak of the Domestic 

 Goose, it will be seen how little such a difference is likely to 

 be the result of domestication. Let us not forget, too, that the 

 domestication of wild races is an art that demands quiet, peace, 

 patience, and superabundance, not merely for its successful 



* " You need not be at a loss to know a wild Duck. The claws in 

 the wild species are black." COL. HAWKER. 



