278 THE DUCK. 



water, appears to think she has performed every duty 

 that is required. 



The hen is a nurse of a very opposite character, and 

 generally brings forth a young one from every egg ; 

 she does not, of course, lead the ducklings to the water, 

 but when they are in it never quits the brink ; and 

 should a rat, or weazel, attempt to molest them, sha 

 instantly proves both her courage and her care, and 

 allures the young ones from the scene of danger to 

 some place of safety near the house. 



Of the wild duck, Brisson reckons twenty different 

 sorts, though there are not more than ten of the tame ; 

 the latter are distinguished by their feet being yellow, 

 whilst those of the wild are invariably black. Sea 

 ducks, which feed in salt water, and dive much, may 

 likewise be known by their broad bill, the hinder toe 

 being much larger, and having a long blunt tail ; 

 whilst those that feed in ponds and rivers have a nar- 

 row bill and a sharp-pointed tail. 



It would be tedious to enter into a minute description 

 of such a numerous class of birds, all agreeing in their 

 habits and mode of living, and only varying in plumage 

 and size. In this tribe we may rank, as natives of our 

 own European dominions, the eider-duck, which is 

 twice the size of the common kind, the bill of which 

 is completely black ; the velvet duck, not so large, and 

 the bill of a yellow hue ; the scoter, known by a knob 

 at the end of the bill ; the tufted duck, adorned with a 

 thick crest; the scaup duck, with a bill of a greyish 

 blue ; the golden eye, with a large white spot at each 

 corner of the mouth : the sheldrake, with a bill of bright 

 red, and swelling into a knob towards the end ; the 

 mallard, which is the stock from whence our tame 



