THE DUCK. 



99 



SECTION XL 



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 domesti- 

 cated, 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 simplicity 

 of their character, from their great fecundity, and from 

 the cheapness and ease with which they were pro- 



