THE POULTRY-YARD. 283 



Probably most aquatic birds primarily took to 

 the water as a measure of self-preservation. We 

 all know how very early young ducks find their 

 way to the nearest pond, and how fearlessly they 

 launch themselves upon it. Few who are familiar 

 with country life have not sympathised with the 

 anxiety of some clucking foster - mother, who, 

 when taking her brood of ducklings out for the 

 first time, has found them all apparently bent 

 upon self-destruction. Now why do young ducks 

 take to the water so early ? Because they are 

 extremely helpless little creatures, without either 

 the swiftness in running or the skill in hiding 

 possessed by chicks and other fluffy birdlings of 

 similar habits. Moreover, reed-beds and shrubs 

 alongr- the banks of a river or lake afford lurking- 

 places for many enemies capable of destroying a 

 whole brood in a few seconds. But as soon as 

 the duckling is afloat, he is comparatively safe. 

 Even a hawk swooping from the upper air 

 would usually find him gone by the time it 

 reached the surface of the water ; for most young 

 aquatic birds have an instinctive knowledge of 

 diving. One danger certainly threatens the 

 ducklinsf when swimming:, for sometimes a 

 hungry pike seizes his little paddles from below 



