£&0 THE DUCK. 



this is no other than the inside down which grows upon 

 the breast of the affectionate bird, and which she plucks 

 off to secure them from the severity of a climate that 

 might prove fatal, by the extreme intenseness of the 

 cold. The natives watch the place where she begins to 

 build ; and, when she has done laying, take away both 

 eggs and nest ; and, after separating the down from 

 the moss and dirt, barter it away for tobacco and spi- 

 rits. The poor bird, however, is not discouraged by 

 these depredations, but instantly prepares a second 

 nest, which again becomes the property of these plun- 

 derers, when the persevering animal then makes a 

 third ; but should that become the prey of the ravishers, 

 she then entirely forsakes the place. 



, As they possess the faculties of flying and swimming, 

 so they are generally birds of passage ; and it is most 

 probable perform their journies across the ocean, as 

 well on the water as in the air. As soon as they arrive 

 amongst us, they are generally seen flying in flocks, 

 and appearing to take a survey of those lakes where 

 they intend taking up their winter's abode, and in the 

 choice of these they have two objects in view, to be re- 

 mote from interruption, and yet near their food. Lakes, 

 therefore, with a marsh on one side, and a wood upon 

 the other, are always known to be their favourite retreat. 

 Though various methods are used for taking these 

 birds, none of them answer so well as a decoy, which 

 generally is found to be most productive where there is 

 a large pond surrounded by a wood, and beyond that 

 marshy and uncultivated ground. When the place is 

 chosen, the pool should be planted round with willows, 

 • unless the wood shades it on every side ; and on the 

 north and south there must be three or four channels, 

 broad towards the pool, but ending in a point. Thes* 



