THE WILD DUOK. 



THE DUOK. 



The duck in its wild state is foimd throughout Europe, Asiat 

 and America. He is a magnificent fellow, and it is as hard 

 to understand how the symmetry of his shape should have so 

 entirely departed, and his gay coat — green and violet and 

 orange and brown — should have faded to such draggle-tail 

 dinginess as distinguishes the domestic duck of the modem 

 poultry market, as it is to believe that the Uthe, long-Umbed 

 wild ass of the desert and the donkey belonging to Welter the 

 sweep are of the same family. 



There are several ingenious modes of capturing the wild 

 duck, peculiar to different parts of the world in which it is 

 found ; but the most ingenious is that of the Indians who dwell 

 on the great lake of Maracaibo, on the north coast of South 

 America. 



A number of calabashes, prepared from the rind of some 

 fruit, and resembling an empty gourd, are always kept floating 

 nji and down the lake, on which swarm innumerable quantities 

 of wild ducks. From habit, the ducks take no notice of the 

 calabashes, but allow them to drift in and among their flocks 

 without causing any stir. The Indian then prepares a cala- 

 bash, in which be cuts holes for seeirg and breathing, and 

 places it over his head ; with this, and a kind of belt round 

 his waist, he starts on his duck -catching expedition. He is 

 almost as used to the water as the birds he is in quest of, and 

 easily steals quietly down towards the flock ; and when within 



