DUCK. 1?5 



black, the black-crested, the Muscovy, and various others, 

 besides teal and widgeon. The characters of the family 

 are, that the beak is shorter in proportion than that of the 

 goose, strong, flat or depressed, and commonly furnished 

 with a nail at the extremity. The feet are proportionably 

 longer than those of the goose kind; the legs are shorter, 

 die beak flatter, and the body more compressed. 



Tame ducks are reared with great facility, and as fre- 

 quently by hens as by their own kind. Yet this does not 

 alter any of their habits: for no sooner are they able to 

 walk than they desert their foster-dam, and direct their 

 course if possible to their favourite element; while she in 

 vain tries to recall them from the apparent danger, and 

 with marks of terror clucks round the brink of the water 

 in which they are swimming for their pleasure. 



The common species of tame ducks derive their origin 

 from the mallard, and may be traced to that bird by unerr- 

 ing characters. Though the drakes vary in colour, they 

 all retain the curled feathers of the tail, and both sexes 

 the shape of the bill peculiar to the wild kind. Nature 

 indeed seems to sport with the colours of all domestic 

 animals, that mankind may with more facility distinguish 

 and claim their respective property. 



Tame ducks are extremely beneficial to mankind; and, as- 

 they subsist on lost corn, worms, snails, and other insects, 

 they are not expensive in keeping. They lay a great 

 number of eggs annually, and may be fatted with ease 

 and expedition. 



The principal difference between wild and tame ducks 

 arises from their size, and the nature of those places from 

 which they derive their existence. The several varieties 

 of wild ducks associate together in flocks during the 

 winter; fly in pairs during the summer; and rear their 

 young by the water-side, or at least in moist situations. 

 The nests are generally composed of long grass, mixed 

 with heath, and lined with feathers ; but, in proportion as 

 the climate becomes colder, they are more artificially 

 constructed and provided with still warmer linings. 

 I 4 



