WILD DTJCK. 11 



change in these matters in a country where now only a few 

 chance birds fall by the gun in the course of a winter.' 



In Cornwall, the Wild Duck is not uncommon near 

 Fal mouth. 



In Ireland it is plentiful. 



Watery districts, ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, are the 

 natural resorts of these frrds. 



The Wild Duck is a resident throughout the country, but 

 even in Orkney large flocks arrive in the autumn from still 

 more northern regions. 'In the extreme north the Mallard 

 is a migratory species, in the temperate climes indigenous, 

 and in the southern a winter visitant.' 



The time of movement from the north begins in the 

 month of October, and continues throughout November. 

 'During this time the flocks that pass over are immense, both 

 with respect to number and extent. These migrations are 

 chiefly performed during the night, but at times, when cir- 

 cumstances hurry them on, they continue the same during 

 the day. The manner in which they fly is in the form of 

 a slanting line, as if broken in its centre. When the journeys 

 are to short distances, they are performed in small parties, 

 following the course of the water or of low wet grounds, and 

 they sometimes fly in a confused low mass near the ground.' 



Bishop Stanley writes 'Ducks too, like Geese, have a 

 strong sense of affection. We cannot, indeed, produce instances 

 so striking or so interesting as those related of the latter, 

 but the two following instances shew a similar tendency 

 towards animals 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 this 

 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 accident 

 was deprived of its companion, 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 affection seemed to strengthen rather than diminish; it 

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



