96 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



has to overcome the resistance of the atmosphere. 

 Each one takes it in turn for a certain time, and when 

 it is tired falls back to the rear to rest while an- 

 other takes its place." 



"To come from countries near the Pole to this 

 one, and still more to Africa," said Jules, "is a very 

 long journey, at least a thousand miles. I can 

 understand how, in order to accomplish it, the ducks 

 must save their strength by arranging themselves 

 in the form of a wedge, point foremost. But tell me, 

 Uncle, what makes these birds prefer the countries 

 of the extreme north, where they go to pass the 

 summer and build their nests I Would n 't they be 

 better off with us than in those wild countries, so 

 cold and covered with snow and ice a great part 

 of the year?" 



"Such is not the opinion of the duck, which pre- 

 fers the gloomy solitudes of the most desolate 

 islands to countries disturbed by the presence of 

 man. In those peaceful spots it can raise its family 

 in complete security; and, besides, provisions abound 

 in the neighboring waters, which are thawed out 

 for several weeks by the summer sun. Neither is it 

 the opinion of the teal, goose, plover, lapwing, and 

 many others, which all, as soon as spring comes, 

 leave us and return to the North, journeying by long 

 stages. Then it is that, from his ambush in a hut 

 of foliage in the middle of a swampy field or in the 

 dried bed of a wide torrent, the hunter imitates with 

 a reed whistle the plaintive note of the plover, to 

 call the migrating bird to his nets. The flock ar- 



