DUCKS. 189 



away, and leave the young to shift for themselves by 

 diving. They may be easily shot when they come 

 up ; but you can seldom kill more than one or two 

 at a time, as they always disperse before you can get 

 very near them. 



These birds show but tame sport with a gun, and 

 are good for nothing when killed. But, in winter 

 nights, they often give you a fine shot on the mud, 

 though they are so white that you can seldom per- 

 ceive them, even afloat, without a good moon. Be 

 prepared to fire directly you rise ; as they, being 

 very quick-sighted birds, will give you but little time 

 to present your gun. 



You may keep young Burrough ducks for five or 

 six weeks, provided you give them crums of bread, 

 and only a little water three times a day. But if you 

 let them get into the water > or even drink too much, 

 before they are full-grown, and fit to be turned out 

 on your pond, you are almost sure to kill them. This 

 appears quite a paradox with birds that, in their wild 

 state, are always in the water ! But, such is the case. 



* COMMON WILD DUCK. Anas boschasLe canard sau- 

 vage. 



The male bifd of which is called mallard, and the 

 young ones flappers. To find a brood of these, go, 

 about July, and hunt the rushes in the deepest and 

 most retired parts of some brook or trout stream ; 

 where, if you spring the old duck, you may be pretty 

 sure that the brood is not far off. When once 



