32. THE DUCK. 



1 HE duck is a swimming bird. It can 

 swim, dive, and walk. It does not 

 walk well, and instead of saying a duck ' walks,' 

 we often say it * waddles.' 



Its short, strong legs are set far back so that 

 it can push itself through the water. 



-The duck's feet have three toes in front, which 

 are united by a web. The hind toe is short. 

 When this bird swims, it uses its webbed feet as 

 paddles. 



It has a boat-shaped body, which is covered 

 with feathers. Underneath the feathers is a thick 

 covering of down. 



Does the duck get wet when it swims ? 



Oh, no ! the down and the oiled feathers keep 

 it dry. Did you ever see one make its toilet ? 



It seems to know that its feathers overlap one 

 another so closely that when they are all straight 

 and well oiled, the water cannot reach its body. 



All birds keep their feathers in very neat order. 

 I do not remember ever to have seen one dirty 

 or untidy, unless it was too ill to care for itself. 



