THE DUCK 305 



a few bits of wood, a strip of wire netting, 

 hammer and nails. One side of this 

 simple pen lifts up, and a cylinder of wire 

 netting, open at both ends, and wide 

 enough to allow free passage to a duck, 

 lies on the ground, leading from the open 

 side to the centre of the pen. For ten 

 days or so the ducks feed gloriously in 

 the open pen, working all round and 

 through the cylinder ; then the open side 

 is let down, covering all but the opening 

 of this tube. With evening comes the 

 flight of ducks ; they have been used to 

 passing through the innocent looking tube 

 of wire netting with impunity, and soon 

 the pen is full. When, however, they 

 wish to depart, to look for an exit in the 

 centre of the pen never seems to occur 

 to them, and they wander disconsolately 

 up and down the walls of their prison, 

 until with morning comes Mr. Bell, duck- 

 keeper at Netherby and originator of this 

 ingenious device, to count his captives, 

 cut the wings of those who are to be 

 given their lives, and alas! to wring the 



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