CLASS II. AYES: ORDER 8. NATATORES, 



307 



THE ANATIDJE. 



This family includes a very large number of important and interesting birds, of which the 



Duck is the type. The distin- 

 guishing characteristic is the 

 bill, which is usually of a flat- 

 tened form, covered ^\ ith a soft 

 skin, and furnished at the edges 

 with a series of lamella^ which 

 serve to sift or strain the mud 

 in which they generally seek 

 their food. The feet are fur- 

 nished with four toes, tliree of 

 which are directed forward, and 

 united by a web ; the fourth is 

 directed backward, usually of 

 small size, and quite free. They 

 are admirable swimmers, and 

 live and move on the water with 

 the utmost security, ease, and 

 grace. Such is their adaptation 

 to water, that the young birds, 

 immediately after being hatched, 

 will run to it and fearlessly 

 launch themselves upon its bosom, rowing themselves along with their webbed feet, without a 

 single lesson, and yet as dexterously as the most experienced boatman. Tliis order includes not 

 only the Bucks, of which there arc many kinds, but Geese, Swans, Flamingoes, &c. These are 

 generally inhabitants of the fresh waters, and, for the most part, prefer ponds and shallow lakes, 

 in which they can investigate the bottom with their peculiar bills, without actually diving beneath 

 the surface ; yet at some seasons they ai-e found along the borders of the sea. Their food gener- 

 ally consists of worms, mollusca, and aquatic insects, which they separate from the mud by the 

 agency of the lamellas at the margins of the bill ; but most of them also feed upon seeds, fruits, 



TUE MALLARD. 



now from another. Happening by chance to approach the cabin-door noiselessly, when, as he thought, the bird sup- 

 posed itself to be alone, he heard it singing in the most plaintive manner, and at intervals talking in an unknown 

 language. Watching it more narrowly, he observed that it was standing before a lookjng-glass, and holding a tender 

 colloquy with its own image. On his entering, it seemed ashamed, and flow to the other side of the cabin. 



" At length the ship arrived at a small island, where, during its stay, several chiefs came on board, and were in- 

 vited into the cabin. The mariner was surprised to behold them fall on their knees, bow their heads, and mutter a 

 prayer to this bird. Upon inquiry, the mariner found it was their god, who, having gone out upon the ocean for an 

 airing, had lost his way, and owed his preservation to the fortunate accident of meeting with a ship. The chiefs 

 offered a large sum of money for his ransom ; but the generous mariner, respecting their prejudices, or else pitying 

 their weakness, restored them their divinity, without even charging for his board and lodging 



"In Europe — though the plumage of the birds be less brilliant, which may account, perhaps, for their being held 

 in less respect — ships sometimes present the appearance of a moving aviary. A vessel sailing through the Bay of 

 Biscay, a consideralale distance from land, became the resting-place of a goMfinch and chaffinch ; snipes, also, and a 

 white owl, flew round the ship; and, what was more surprising, a hawk appeared in the midst of large numbers of 

 swallows and martins. To explain this phenomenon, we must suppose that the migratory instinct subdues for a sea- 

 son the instinct of ferocity, otherwise the white owl and the hawk would have feasted forthwith upon their compan- 

 ions. Finding themselves to be fellow-travelers with smaller and more defenseless birds, and looking upon the ship 

 as a wandering caravansary, they respected the rites of hospitality, and for several days lived among their inferiors 

 with equal gentleness and condescension. Another visitant to the same ship was a hen redstart, which entered 

 through the port-holes over the guns, and was daily fed by the sailors. Having reposed as long as was needful, these 

 little wayfarers took their leave — we may presume on their war to Africa, since the ship seems to have been descend- 

 ing from a higher to a lower latitude, and thus afforded the emigrants a welcome lift. On board the same vessel a 

 small gallinule and a kestrel hawk were caught at a distance of four hundred and twenty-four miles from land. 



" It is highly probable that, if our naval officers were in general fonder of natural history, we should obtain from 

 them extremely curious particulars respecting the habits of migratory birds. The oldest of the Greek poets alludes, 

 in many parts of his poems, to the migration of cranes, which are so strong of wing that it may be presumed they 



