NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Hatched in China by artificial heat. 



as they had finished their repast, they returned 

 to their accustomed haunts. 



The Chinese make great use of ducks, but pre- 

 fer the tame to the wild ones. It is said that th 

 major part of the ducks in China 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 time required for 

 hatching. The ducklings are fed with crawfish 

 and crabs, boiled and cut small, and afterwards 

 mixed with boiled rice ; and in about a fortnight 

 they are able to shift for themselves. The Chi- 

 nese then provide them an old step-mother, who 

 leads them where they are to find provender; 

 being first put on board a sampane, or boat, 

 which is destined for their habitation ; 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 

 oat of the twelve, (for in the colder months it 

 does not succeed;) and is so far from a novelty, 

 that it may be every where seen: but more espe- 

 cially about the time of cutting the rice, and 

 gleaning the crop; when the masters of the 

 duck-sampanes row up and down the river, ac- 

 cording 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 observe how the 

 ducks obey their masters; for some thousands, 



