A SELF-SACRIFICING MOTHER, 



23s 



extremely attached to their young, which the follow- 

 ing^ story, told by the great hunter and naturalist, 

 Charles John Andersson, abundantly proves : — 



" The moment that the parent birds became aware 

 of our intention (to capture some chicks) they set off 

 at full speed, the female leading the way, the young 

 following in her wake, and the cock, though at some 

 little distance, bringing up the rear of the family 

 party. It was very touching to observe the anxiety 

 the old birds evinced for the safety of their progeny. 

 Finding that we were quickly gaining upon them, the 

 male at once slackened his pace and diverged some- 

 what from his course, but seeing that we were not to 

 be diverted from our purpose, he again increased his 

 speed, and with win^i drooping so as almost to touch 

 the ground, he hovered round us, now in wide circles, 

 and then decreasing their circumference till he came 

 almost within pistol-shot, when he abruptly threw 

 himself upon the ground, and struggled desperately 

 to regain his legs, like a bird that had been badly 

 wounded ; having previously fired at him, I really 

 thought he was disabled, and made quickly towards 

 him ; but this was only a ruse on his part, for on 

 my nearer approach he slowly rose and began to run 

 in an opposite direction to that of the female, who by 

 this time was considerably ahead with her charge." 



Who that is partial to shooting or fishing has not 

 witnessed our wild duck perform exactly in the same 

 way when engaged in the duties of maternity, and 

 suddenly disturbed in rush-bound haunt. Here we 

 have two birds essentially dissimilar in every respect, 

 with habitats as far apart as it is possible for them to 

 be, practising exactly the same ruse for the protec- 

 tion of their young. 



Is this instinct or intellect? it must be one or the 

 other, but how very difficult it is to decide which ! 

 One thing we do know, their instructor is the same 

 great teacher who created the world. 



