REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



the nest; and when she returns, she approaches cautiously, winding that she 

 may avoid discovery. The young burst their shells nearly at one time, and in 

 a few hours the parents conduct them to the stream, where they at once begin 

 to swim, and feed on herbs and insects; and at night they are gathered together 

 under the wing.s of the dam. In three months they can fly; and in three 

 months more their growth and plumage are complete. 



The domestic duck adapts his habits to his new condition. He no longer 

 retires with one female to pair, and tend his brood, but becomes polygamous; 

 and he loses the caution and sense of danger which distinguish him in his 

 wild state. Still, as in the wild state, by means of his nicely-formed bill, he 

 finds in marshes and elsewhere the food that is suited to him. He feeds alike 

 upon animal and vegetable substances; on the spawn of fish, and the larvae of 

 insects; upon grass, the seeds of aquatic plants, and even sea-weeds. These 

 birds may be said to be omnivorous, and this it is which, with their hardy 

 qualities, renders them so easy of culture. 



The duck begins to lay her eggs in February, and, obeying her natural in- 

 stinct, she will, unless confined, lay them abroad, and conceal them. During 

 the period of hatching, she requires no other care but to be kept undisturbed. 

 When she wants food, she will go in search of it, covering up her eggs as in 

 the wild state. When the young are hatched, they should be allowed to re- 

 main in the nest so long as the dam chooses; after which she may be put into 

 a coop in the open air during the day for a short time. She should then have 

 a full allowance of good food and water, while the youngshould likewise have 

 a flat dish put down to them with water frequently renewed, with a proper 

 supply of meal or other farinaceous food, such as boiled potato-^. 



A common hen is frequently substituted for the natural parent to hatch the 

 eggs of the duck. But wherever there are any pools of water, the proper 

 nurse is the duck herself; she conducts her young to their natural element, 

 and brings them from it when it is time, while, when a hen is the nurse, they 

 disregard her signals on the bank, and do not themselves know when to re- 

 turn. 



The feeding of these fowls is easy. In certain situations, they are allowed 

 access to their natural haunts, the marshes and the bogs, where they feed; and 

 when they are to be ultimately fattened, they are fed for a short time on fari- 

 naceous food. As in the case of other fowls, there are also breeds of the com- 

 mon duck more or less valued; and there are some singular varieties, as the 

 hook-billed duck, reared in aviaries and poultry-yards. 



The Mallard is the original of the ducks usually reared for economical pur- 

 poses. Other species, too, are sometimes domesticated. One of these is the 

 Chinese duck, An- >.'<ita. A large species is the Muscovy duck, or, 



as he ought rather to be called, the Musk duck, Anas moschata, a native of 

 Paraguay, and the neighbouring provinces. He there perches on trees by the 

 sides of livers and inn-hr-, and breeds several times in the year; he is very 

 shy in his wild state, but readily submits to domestication; he is larger than 

 the common species, very prolific, and easily fattened. 



2. The Wild Goose, Anas anser, a native of America, is another of this valu- 

 able family, widely extended over the world, and susceptible of entire subjec- 

 tion to the will of inan. 



Like the wild duck, this fine animal quits the swamps of the vast wilder- 

 nesses of the North on the approach of winter, and migrates far to the South. 

 From 50 to 100 individuals are often in flight together, at a vast height, some- 

 times beyond the reach of vision, and only recognised by their shrill voices. 

 All have witnessed the surprising regularity of their flight; the leaders form- 

 ing the apex of an angle, and cleaving the air, as it were, for those that follow. 

 They pursue their lofty flights from Vast distances, and when they alight for 

 food or rest, they station sentinels, to guard them from surprise. 



Part of them remain to breed in the lakes, rivers, and fens of lower latitudes, 

 but the greater number of them return to the boundless regions of marsh and 

 forest whence they had taken their flight, and where they can rear their young 

 in security. 



The domestic race of this species generally loses the desire of escaping, al- 

 though a few instances occur of the tame joining the wild race. The tame 



