198 THE WILD-DUCK. 



though many other species of Wild-Duck, under 

 similar confinement, bred regularly, the Sheldrake 

 never was observed to take any steps in preparing a 

 nest. 



In a nobleman's menagerie, we have heard, how- 

 ever, that they were induced to do so by simply 

 burrowing holes about three or four feet deep, like 

 rabbit-holes, in the bank, a foot or two above the 

 water. The bird thus found her accustomed accom- 

 modation, and lost no time in availing herself of it. 

 Ducks, too, like Geese, have a strong sense of affec- 

 tion : we cannot, indeed, produce instances so strik- 

 ing or so interesting as those related of the latter, 

 but the two following instances show a similar ten- 

 dency towards animals as well as human beings. 



A clergyman had a very fierce and noisy house- 

 dog, within the length of whose chain it would have 

 been dangerous for a stranger to have ventured; but, 

 notwithstanding his apparently savage disposition, a 

 brood of Ducklings, reared in the yard in which 

 lie was kept, soon became so fond of him, that 

 whenever, from his barking, they apprehended 

 danger, they would rush towards him for protection, 

 and seek shelter in his kennel. 



A farmer's wife had a young Duck, which by 

 some accident was deprived of its companions, and 

 from that moment seemed to concentrate all its 

 affections on her. Wherever she moved, it followed 

 her so closely, that she was in constant fear of 

 treading upon and crushing it to death. As it grew 

 older, its affection seemed to strengthen rather than 

 diminish ; it laid itself by the fire and basked on 

 the hearth, and when noticed, seemed delighted : 



