418 HISTORY OF 



down, of which we shall take notice in its place. 

 The best method of curing feathers, is to lay them 

 in a room in an open exposure to the sun ; and, 

 when dried, to put them into bags, and beat them 

 well with poles to get the dust off. But after all, 

 nothing will prevent, for a time, the heavy smell 

 which arises from the putrefaction of the oil con- 

 tained in every feather ; no exposure will draw 

 this off, how long soever it be continued : they 

 must be lain upon, which is the only remedy ; 

 and, for this reason, old feathers are much more 

 valuable than new. 



CHAPTER XII. 



OF THE DUCK, AND ITS VARIETIES. 



THE tame Duck is the most easily reared of all 

 our domestic animals. The very instincts of the 

 young ones direct them to their favourite element ; 

 and though they are conducted by a hen, yet they 

 despise the admonitions of their leader. 



This serves as an incontestable proof, that all 

 birds have their manners rather from nature than 

 education. A falcon pursues the partridge, not 

 because it is taught by the old one, but because 

 its appetites make their importunate call for ani- 

 mal food ; the cuckoo follows a very different 

 trade from that which its nurse endeavoured to 

 teach it, and, if we may credit Pliny, in time 



