The Mallard 9 
at once. It is either abandoned or put to death, and its executioner goes on 
her way as if nothing had happened, sustained by the reflection that she had 
been cruel only to be kind. 
I have several times seen semi-domesticated wild ducks rush at a sick 
youngster and kill it by smashing in its skull — a circumstance that too 
frequently rouses the vilest passion of the duck tribe — the poor little 
unfortunates being finally torn to pieces and devoured by other ducks. 
These birds, however, are not always so callous and devoid of sympathy 
with their fellows ; as will be seen by the following anecdote. 
Some years ago, when bent on obtaining sketches for the present work, 
I found a good plan was to hire a canoe on the Serpentine and drift along 
the enclosure where the ducks have their sanctuary in Kensington Gardens. 
Here the ducks behave themselves and live exactly as the wild ones do, and 
I was soon able to fill my sketch-books. One day an old duck with a brood 
of ten newly hatched youngsters, finding my boat coming nearer to them than 
she quite liked, set sail along the shore accompanied by all her children except 
one, which, cramped with rheumatism, could not keep up with the rest, but 
struggled along bravely some five or six yards in the rear. Greatly displeased 
at this exhibition of weakness, the old duck kept up a loud and continuous 
cry, and turned back every few yards as if to compel the weakling to hasten 
on ; and at last, finding all her efforts in vain, she broke away from her 
family, dashed up to the sick one, and dealt it a blow with her bill which 
stretched it insensible on the water. Instantly there was a violent commotion 
amongst the group of ducks who were resting on the lawn about ten yards 
away. They quacked loudly in astonishment, and one of them, flying to the 
rescue, seized and bit the murderous mother with evident fury. So sudden 
and determined was her gallant attack that the criminal almost immediately 
retired discomfited, and rejoined her brood, with which she swam clean away. 
Now ensued a scene of the most touching and pathetic character. The 
rescuer, betraying unmistakably her deep concern for the little one now nearly 
dead, turned it over with her bill and did everything she could think of to 
c 
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