fffE BAitNAChE-GOOSK, 221 



(Juickly dries up, and to such a degree that, after 

 some days, it is very difficult to find among the 

 shells the remains of the shrivelled animal. This 

 has probably given rise to the belief in the marine 

 origin of the wild duck. The canard rising from 

 the water has broken its shell, and left nothing but 

 its debris on the shore. Experience and reasoning 

 are powerless in face of this prejudice. If the rustics 

 of the North cannot say they have seen the canard 

 leave the shell, the only reason is, they would 

 answer, that it is hatched during the night. 



Fabulous legends of this kind have hidden the 

 true facts in a surrounding of incredible circum- 

 stances, owing to the strong inclination for the 

 marvellous which has characterised young nations 

 and oriental races. The sea was, in olden times, 

 peopled by sirens who played a great part in naviga- 

 tion. Unlucky was it for the voyager who had too 

 great a liking for art and beauty ! Charmed by the 

 perfidious but sweet songs of the siren, he became 

 the sport of fantastic illusions ; he saw imaginary 

 coasts, and was wrecked on invisible rocks. The 

 siren is a fabulous being. But harmonious sounds 

 float over the ocean, though perhaps they are only 

 those made by the sobbing of the waves, by the 

 suash of the water against tlie ship's sides, or against 

 the bulk of some great fish. 



