194 THE DUCK. 



hatched young ones are sold to those who bring 

 them up ; and these try, in the following manner, 

 whether they are hatched too soon or not. They 

 take up the little Ducks by the bill, and let their 

 bodies hang down ; if they sprawl and extend their 

 feet and wings, they are hatched in due time ; but 

 if they hare had too much heat, they hang without 

 struggling. The latter often live till they are put to 

 the water, which is generally eight days after they 

 are hatched, this turns them giddy; they get 

 cramped, throw themselves on their backs, and die 

 in convulsions. They are carefully fed with boiled 

 rice, mixed up with herbs and little fish, chopped 

 small. When they are older, they are removed into 

 a larger floating-pen, called a sampane, which has a 

 broad bottom of bamboo, with a gallery round, above 

 the river, and a bridge declining towards the water. 

 An old and experienced step-mother is provided to 

 lead them down, and attend them when feeding: 

 these old birds are so well trained, that at the given 

 signal in the evening, they return in the utmost haste 

 with their young broods. This signal is a whistle, on 

 the sound of which the whole flock sets itself in 

 motion, waddling in regular order towards their 

 boat. The first Duck that enters is rewarded with 

 some favourite food ; the last is whipped as an idler : 

 so that it is a comical sight to see the last birds, as if 

 knowing w r hat will happen to the last of all, making 

 efforts to fly over the backs of others, and get on board 

 the boat in time to escape punishment. 



We should be surprised to see our domestic Ducks 

 perch amongst the branches of trees, adjacent to 

 their roosting-places, and there pass the night ; but 



