104 



THE TAME DUCK. 



the reigns of Thutmes IV. and of Ameno II., in the 

 beginning of the eighteenth century before the Chris- 

 tian era, and hence, if Rosellini's interpretation of the 

 inscriptions is right, the picture is 3,600 years old." 



In other delineations of the same work, ponds 

 in gardens, with tame ducks, geese, and fishes, sur- 

 rounded by fruit trees, are presented. It is somewhat 

 remarkable, that, esteemed as the duck was by the an- 

 cient Egyptians, neither this bird in a tame state, nor 

 the goose, though wild fowls are abundant, is to be seen 

 as of extraordinary occurrence in the villages ; the same 

 observation applies to Syria, and also to Persia and 

 "Western Asia in general. These aquatic birds are 

 rarely eaten by the Moslems ; and, as there is every 

 reason to believe, were rejected by the ancient He- 

 brews. The wild duck abounds in Syria and other 

 parts of Western Asia, where marshes and lakes afford 

 it a congenial habitation. Wild fowls swarm also on 

 the lake t)f Tiberias. 



It may be shown, however from negative evidence, 

 that the Romans at the time of our Saviour, and sub- 

 sequently, were not acquainted with the domesticated 

 duck. I can find no passage plainly declaring that 

 they were, but many implying that they were not. 



Columella, after having given directions for the 

 rearing of geese, which, with one or two laughable 

 exceptions, are more sensible and practical than are to 

 be found in modern works, proceeds to offer instruc- 

 tions for making the nessotrophion, or duckery. He 

 speaks of it as a matter of curiosity rather than profit ; 

 " for ducks, teal, mallard, phalerides," says he, " and 

 such like birds, are fed in confinement." Then it is 

 to be surrounded with a wall fifteen feet high, and 

 roofed with netting, in order "that the domestic birds 

 may have no power of flying out, nor eagles and 

 hawks of flying in." His mcde of increasing his stock 

 shows that ducks had not at that time become natu- 

 ralised as prolific inmates of the Roman poultry yards. 

 *-* When any one is desirou of establishing a duckery," 



