THE DUCK. 



SECTION XII. 



THE AQUATIC SPECIES. 



The Duck. 



THE GOOSE and DUCK genus is said by naturalists 

 to comprehend upwards of one hundred species, 

 varying considerably in size and plumage from each 

 other ; comparatively few of them have been domes- 

 ticated, but the date of that domestication is far 

 beyond all memorial or record. 



This genus of fowls was deservedly a great favour- 

 ite with the ancients, from the mildness and simpli- 

 city of their character, from their great fecundity, 

 and from the cheapness and ease with which they 

 were provided. Although the duck will eat flesh 

 and garbage of any kind like the chicken, yet water 

 insects, weeds, vegetables, corn, and pulse, are its 

 general food, and, as has been already observed, 

 the goose desires nothing but the latter. The in- 

 offensive and harmless character is common to both 

 species, rendering them most pleasant as well as 

 profitable animals to keep, and the contrast between 

 them and the chickens, in their nature and habits, is 

 highly in favour of the goose and duck tribe. In 

 fact, nothing can be more savage, cruel, and vora- 

 cious than the very nature of the common fowl, on 

 which domestication and society work no softening 



