290 DUCK. 



A. — Anas domestica, Ind. Orn. ii. 851. jS. Lin. i. 206. §. Bris. vi. 308. Id. 8vo. ii. 



431. Bruit. No. 88. Borowsk. iii. 17. Klein, 131. 7d. 0«. 34. t. 20. f. 1. 



Rail, 150, 1. /d. 191. 10. Will. 293. t. 75. JSroum, Jam. 480. S/oan. Jam. 



323. 7. Coin. v. t. 563, 564. 

 Die Zabme Ente, Beehst. Deuts. ii. 705. 

 Tame Duck, Gen. Syn. vi. 454. Albin,\\\. pi. 99. Beu>. ii. pi. 333. 



The above synonyms comprise the authors who have mentioned 

 the Mallard and Duck in a domesticated state, the Varieties of which 

 are so great, that no regular description can be given ; besides, it 

 would scarcely be in our power to add to the knowledge of the 

 country housewife, as the general manners are so well known; no 

 nation makes so great use of Ducks as the Chinese, but they do not 

 prefer the wild sort, being in general extremely fond of tame ones. 

 It is said, that the greater part of these are hatched by artificial heat; 

 the eggs, being laid in boxes of sand, are placed on a brick hearth, 

 to which is given a proper heat during the requited time for hatching. 

 The Ducklings are fed with crawfishes and crabs, boiled and cut 

 small, and afterwards mixed with boiled rice; in a fortnight they 

 shift for themselves, when the Chinese provide for them a step 

 mother, who leads them where they may find provender; being first 

 put on board a sampane, or boat, which is destined for their habita- 

 tion, and from which the whole flock, often to the amount of three 

 or four hundred, go out to feed, and return at command.* This 

 method is used nine months out of twelve, (for in the colder it does 

 not succeed) and is so far from a novelty, that it may every where 

 be seen, more especially about the time of cutting the rice, and 

 gleaning the crop ; when the masters of the Duck sarapanes row up 

 and down the river, according to the opportunity of procuring food, 

 which is found in plenty, at the tide of ebb, on the rice plantations, 

 as they are overflowed at high water. It is curious to see how the 

 Ducks obey their master; for some thousands, belonging to different 

 boats, will feed at large on the same spot, and on a signal given 



* This I have heard several affirm. It is likewise mentioned by many authors, among 

 which see Osb. Voy. i. 194. Toreen Voy. ii. 255. 



