THE HOME OF THE WILD DUCK. 21 J 



of them may sometimes be seen directing their unerring course to- 

 wards their destination, the rustling of their wings being heard at 

 considerable distances. The leading bird, which directs the course 

 of the band, and which is thus exposed to the first resistance of the 

 wind, from being foremost to cleave the air, soon becomes fatigued, 

 when it falls back into the second rank, its place in the van being 

 immediately taken by another (Plate V.) 



Wild Ducks are extremely suspicious in their nature. When they 

 want to settle down on any spot, or to go from one pool to another, 

 they sweep round in concentric curves, descending and ascending 

 again and again, until they have made a complete survey of their 

 intended halting-place. 



The margins of fresh-water lakes, pools, and marshes, are the 

 principal localities frequented by the Wild Duck, so long as the 

 frosts of winter do not prevent their obtaining the water-insects and 

 aquatic weeds on which they feed. But when the ice has covered the 

 stagnant waters, they betake themselves to more temperate climates, 

 invariably following the courses of the rivers and running streams. 

 When they return northward after the great thaw — that is, about the 

 end of February — they disperse in pairs among the rushes, reeds, and 

 sedge-grasses, in search of breeding-places, constructing a bulky nest 

 of weeds, which is simply laid on the ground, and generally near 

 to water. 



Much ingenuity of construction is not to be looked for in the nest 

 of the Wild Duck. A favourite situation is a thickly-grown tuft of 

 sedge, from which they pluck off a few of the blades, bend down the 

 other stems so as to form a foundation, the surface being covered 

 with a soft layer of down. Their nests are occasionally found at 

 some distance from water, amidst heath or broom, or even in the 

 fork of a tree, the female having been known to take possession of a 

 magpie or crow's nest, which had been abandoned. 



The Duck lays from five to ten eggs, and sometimes more ; their 

 colour varies, but is generally a dull greenish white. The female sits 

 alone, and only quits the nest to seek her food, when she covers it 

 up carefully with any rubbish at hand ; on her return, the cunning 

 creature alights a considerable distance from it, and glides through 

 the grass, looking in every direction to see that she is not watched ; 

 if discovered, she will even feign lameness to induce pursuit, so that 

 she may draw off intruders from her brood. 



Incubation lasts about a month. The young ones are then 

 hatched, all generally bursting the egg on the same day. They are 

 covered with a close yellow down, and are quite alert when they 



