§ THE GARDEN BOOK OF CALIFORNIA 



their summers. It was late in the fall, and all of the birds 

 had been removed to winter quarters save one small black 

 duck and a stately swan. The pool in the center of the 

 aviary was small and round and clear, with not over a foot 

 and a half of water in it. The small duck swimming about 

 with the swan seemed to be charmed by discovering every 

 few moments crumbs among the pebbles shining at the bot- 

 tom of the pool, and he would go down, head first, after 

 them, while his glossy little black tail would "wig-wag" in 

 a most enticing manner. The swan would apparendy give 

 no heed to the duck's gyrations, but just as the little black 

 tail would point up and "wig-wag," the swan would crane 

 over his long neck, take the duck by the tail and lift him to 

 the surface of the pool, never stopping meantime his graceful 

 career, as he slowly sailed over the surface. The small 

 duck would come up quacking and fluttering, apparendy un- 

 conscious as to the cause of his sudden "upsettedness," but 

 would immediately try it again, and the whole performance 

 would be repeated. My friend declares that he saw this 

 done a dozen times or more, and the swan had a knowing 

 leer in his eye that showed he appreciated a good practical 

 joke as well as did the onlooker. 



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