THE DUCK. bo 



them, while they, having been already accustomed to the sight 

 of the gourds, apprehend no danger when the enemy is in the 

 very midst of them. He then begins his operations by seizing a 

 duck by the legs, and instantly drawing it under the water before 

 it has time to cry or give the alarm to the rest ; he fastens it to 

 his girdle, and approaching another serves it in the same man- 

 ner, and thus proceeds until he has gotten a sufficient load. 

 Having procured his quantity, he slowly moves off again. All 

 this the Chinese fowlers perform with such dexterity, by keeping 

 their bodies always concealed in the water, that they never alarm 

 the flock, and the ducks, ignorant of what is transacting among 

 them, neither suspect the unseen danger, nor notice the instan- 

 taneous disappearance of their companions. By the ingenuity 

 of this method, and their dexterity in practising it, the Chinese 

 obtain great quantities of the excellent food which the flesh of 

 the duck is known to afford. 



We could not but think it would afford some entertainment, 

 as well as enlarge the sphere of imormation, to give a descrip- 

 tion of some of the most curious methods which the ingenuity 

 of man has invented in order to turn the animal creation to his 

 own pleasure or profit. These delineations are, indeed, pecu- 

 liarly interesting, as they exhibit a curious display of natural his- 

 tory in connexion with human economy, and are calculated to 

 give us an enlarged view of the beneficent and extensive plan of 

 the all-wise Creator, in bestowing on the various kinds of animal 

 life properties so useful to man, whom he has, by the gift of su- 

 perior sagacity, enabled to convert the inferior departments of 

 Nature to his own advantage. 



The comforts and conveniencies which mankind derive from 

 the various kinds of animals with which the face of Nature is 

 overspread, are procured by taking such as are wild, and by 

 breeding up others in a domestic state. From the latter method 

 the greatest advantages, undoubtedly, result, as will readily be 

 perceived, from contemplating the history of the horse, the cow, 

 and a number of others. The method, however, is not always 

 practicable ; and it is obvious that the domestication of the 

 feathered tribes is of less importance to man, than that of some 

 of the quadruped race. Some volatiles, however, by being bred 

 up under his protection, amply repay his cares. This may have 

 been observed in respect to the common poultry, the turkey, 

 and the pigeon. The goose and the duck may with great pro- 

 priety be added to the number, and considered as holding one 

 of the first places in the scale of utility. 



The duck, in a state of domestication, is extremely beneficial 

 to mankind ; and as it subsists on waste corn, worms, snails, 

 and other insects, or reptiles, it is maintained with little expense 



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