THETAMEDUCK. 471 



due soaking, the monstrous mouthful easily slipped down. 

 They are cheerful, harmless, good-natured, cleanly creatures. 

 As Audubon says, " They wash themselves, and arrange their 

 dress, before commencing their meal ; and in this, other tra- 

 vellers (in America particularly) would do well to imitate 

 them." 



In rearing Ducklings, it is usual, in the first place, to dip 

 their feet in water as soon as hatched, and then to clip the 

 down on their tails close with a pair of scissors, to prevent 

 their becoming drabbled and water-logged; and before their 

 introduction to the pond, it is thought advisable, by many 

 good housewives, to let them have a private swim or two in 

 a small pan of water, to try their strength and practise their 

 webbed feet before venturing upon a larger space. 



A few original notes on the Mallard will not be out of place 

 here, though the facts they record show that the Teal and such- 

 like water cage-birds have a truer claim upon them ; if disposi- 

 tion and habits are to guide our arrangement. 



"I have seen enough of the Mallard of England, and his 

 untrustworthy progeny, to make me doubt of his being the 

 origin of our Farm Duck. That the Mallard is becoming less 

 frequent every year in our vicinity is true, but we have at- 

 tributed it chiefly to the exertions of unbidden would-be 

 sportsmen on our river. We still, however, have them in cer- 

 tain places in tolerable abundance. They are fond of frequent- 

 ing the furze and heath on our downs in spring, and sometimes 

 breed there, but oftener in willow-beds and the thick grass in 

 our meadows, whence I have often had Eggs brought me, and 

 set under Hens. These generally hatch well, if the Hen's 

 breast be dipped in water a few times during incubation. 

 There is a decided gain as to docility in Ducks hatched in 

 this way, over those caught on the river, even if only a single 

 day old. Young Wild Ducks are certainly some of the most 

 cunning and slippery little creatures extant, and the best 



