86 WILD DUCK. 



be most abundant ; they are common in Britain, and 

 breed on many of our rivers and lakes, sometimes at 

 a considerable distance from the water. They scrape 

 together a heap from such vegetables as are conti- 

 guous for a nest, and lay from ten to eighteen bluish- 

 white eggs. They have been known sometimes to 

 lay their eggs in a high tree, in a deserted magpie 

 or crow's nest ; and an instance has likewise been 

 recorded of one being found at Etchingham, in 

 Sussex, sitting upon nine eggs, in an oak, at the 

 height of twenty-five feet from the ground ; the eggs 

 were supported by some small twigs placed cross- 

 ways. The female, during the period of incubation, 

 usually plucks the down from her breast to line her 

 nest, and frequently covers the eggs when she leaves 

 them. Wild Ducks pair j but when domesticated 

 become polygamous. 



The flesh of the Wild Duck is in general and high 

 estimation; and the ingenuity of man, in every country 

 where it frequents, has been employed in inventing 

 stratagems to capture these artful and wary birds, 

 and procure a delicacy for the table. A few of the 

 most simple and effective of their contrivances may 

 be mentioned. 



Wilson relates that in America the following singu- 

 lar methods are used : " In some ponds frequented 

 by these birds, five or six wooden figures, cut and 

 painted so as to represent Ducks, and sunk, by pieces 

 of lead nailed to their bottoms, so as to float at the 

 usual depth on the surface, are anchored in a favour- 

 able position for being raked from a concealment 

 of brush, &c, on shore. The appearance of these 



