THE WILD DUCK. 



Curious instances. 



lised on the river Ganges, the earthern vessels/of 

 the Gentoos being used instead of calabashes. 

 These vessels are what the Gentoos boil their 

 rice in : after having been once used, they are 

 looked upon as defiled, and are thrown into the 

 river as useless: the duck-takers find them con- 

 venient for their purpose; as the ducks, from 

 seeing them constantly float down the stream, 

 look upon them as objects not to be regarded. 



Wild ducks are very artful birds. They do 

 not always build their nest close to the water; 

 but often at a good distance from it; in which 

 case the female will take the young in her beak, 

 or between the legs, to the water. They have 

 been known sometimes to lay their eggs in a high 

 tree, in a deserted magpie or crow's nest; and an 

 instance has likewise been recorded of one being 

 found at Etchingham, in Sussex, sitting upon 

 nine eggs, in an oak, at the height of twenty-five 

 feet from the ground: the eggs were supported 

 by some small twigs, laid crossways. 



At Bold, in Lancashire, it is said there were 

 formerly great quantities of wild ducks, during 

 the summer time, in the ponds and moat near 

 the hall; which used regularly to be fed. A man 

 beat with a stone on a hollow wooden vessel, and 

 immediately the ducks would come round him. 

 He scattered corn among them, which they ga- 

 thered with as much quietness and familiarity as 

 might be expected from tame ducks. As soon 



YOL. iv. NO. 27- 2 c; 



