140 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



There was a male specimen of this hybrid, for it is 

 notliing else, in the British Museum ; and in order 

 to prove what the hivd really was, I bred a mate for it 

 in my garden, and sent it also to the Museum, just to 

 upset the dictum of one who, in liis day, was deemed 

 to know much, but many of whose dicta were 

 based on mere hearsay, and whose work noiu 

 stands little more than a milestone (like many 

 otliers of ancient date), left on the old coacli- 

 road of science before the commencement of the 

 better-informed and faster train, simply to show 

 where the public in former times were wont to 

 travel. 



Before closing this chapter, in passing, let me 

 remark, that of all the amusing birds of the duck 

 tribe, the most beautiful, as well as the most 

 amusing, is the American wood or Carolina duck. 

 The plumage of the male is gorgeous in the ex- 

 treme^ while there is a beautiful simplicity in the 

 female plumage, in hue and neatness, reminding 

 one of a very well-dressed Quakeress, without that 

 worldly tip-t(jp tile of affectation, the ugly Quaker- 

 bonnet. Tlie wood-duck will breed in a tame state, 

 and, if pinioned, reside contentedh^ on any orna- 

 mental water, or on the waters of a decoy for other 



