THE DUCK. 20$ 



THE DUCK. 



The Duck tribe differs from the goose, chiefly in 

 size and colour, their form and habits being similar to 

 those of the geese. Like the geese, some of this tribe 

 have been long domesticated, while most of the spe- 

 cies remain wild. 



The Ducks, through all their varieties, are much 

 alike in most of their manners and habits. They all 

 dive, fly, or swim, as occasion requires. Most of them 

 inhabit the salt water, but some kinds live entirely 

 among rivers and lakes, and never approach the sea. 

 Ducks are stupid, and careless birds. Even in nur- 

 turing their young, they do not usually display that 

 attention and vigilance, so common to the feathered 

 race. The female seems to be a heedless, inattentive 

 mother, and often forgets her young when they most 

 need her care. Having led them to the pond, she 

 seems to think that she has provided for all their 

 wants, by shewing them the water. She does not, 

 like the hen, call her family around her, and teach 

 them how to provide for themselves. If the vermin 

 about the pond destroy her young, she does not miss 

 them, and if she hears them cry, she takes little notice 

 of their distress. While sitting, she sometimes loiters 

 away her time at the pond, ducking and refreshing 

 herself in the water, until her eggs grow cold and 

 lifeless. 



The hen is a nurse of much better character. She 

 sits on her eggs with the most determined persever- 

 ance ; never leaves them, but for a few moments at a 

 time, and hurries back as though her presence was 

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