372 THE WILD DUCK. 



it. Ducks, too, like Geese, have a strong sense of affection ; 

 we cannot, indeed, produce instances so striking or so in- 

 teresting as those related of the latter, but the two following 

 instances show a similar tendency towards animal, as well as 

 human beings. 



A clergyman had a very fierce and noisy house-dog, within 

 the length of whose chain it would have been dangerous 

 for a stranger to have ventured; but notwithstanding his 

 apparently savage disposition, a brood of Ducklings, reared 

 in the yard in which he was kept, soon became so fond of 

 him, that whenever, from his barking, they apprehended 

 danger, they would rush towards him for protection, and 

 seek shelter in his kennel. 



A farmer's wife had a young Duck, which by some acci- 

 dent was deprived of its companions, and from that moment 

 seemed to concentrate all its affections on her. Wherever 

 she moved, it followed her so closely that she was in constant 

 fear of treading upon and crushing it to death. As it grew 

 older, its affections seemed to strengthen rather than diminish ; 

 it laid itself by the fire and basked on the hearth, and when, 

 noticed, seemed delighted; this continued till some other 

 Ducks were procured, when, being constantly driven out of 

 the house, it gradually associated itself with its more natural 

 companions. 



Another case was that of a pair of Muscovy Ducks which 

 were landed at Holyhead, from a Liverpool vessel returning 

 from the coast of Africa. The male was conveyed to a 

 gentleman's house in the neighbourhood, and introduced to 

 a flock of Ducks ; but to them he manifested the greatest 

 indifference, and was evidently pining at the loss of his mate, 

 when one day she too was brought up and turned loose ; for 

 a short time, being engaged at a distance, he did not see her ; 

 but, when, on turning his head accidentally, he caught a 

 glimpse of his well-known companion, he rushed towards 

 her with an earnestness and affection which quite touched 

 those who witnessed the meeting. Nothing from that 

 moment would induce him to quit her, and he manifested his 





