114 DUCKS ATTACKED BY SKUNK. 



Now, these are goodly fowls to look at, larger and 

 more robust than the mallard (Anas boschas) ; but 

 tempting as the opportunity was, it would have 

 been worse than sacrilege to deprive a specimen of 

 this family of life. Happy in the thought that I 

 could once in my life regard them without blood- 

 thirsty intentions I relapsed, while still observing 

 them, into an ambiguous state, difficult to distin- 

 guish between sleep and wakefulness. 



But I was not the only spectator of the con- 

 fiding broad-bills, apparently as listless as myself; 

 for I was startled by the appearance of a head, 

 which rose for a moment above the surface of the 

 water. At the time I took it for that of a musk- 

 rat a circumstance so common, that it made no 

 impression on my mind ; but the view I obtained 

 was only momentary. 



The poor ducks, floating with their heads nestled 

 under their wings, remained almost stationary, un- 

 conscious of the fact that an enemy was near them, 

 for there was neither current nor wind to move 

 them over the surface of the lake. A cry of 

 alarm, however, from one of the birds, accompanied 

 by the rapid strokes of its wings, proved that one 

 had been attacked. All save the stricken one, 

 who fruitlessly struggled against his captor, took 

 wing, leaving their unfortunate comrade to his fate ; 

 like man, too ready to forsake his bosom-friend in 

 the hour of trial. 



The poor bird continued to beat its wings in 



