CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 8. NATATORES. 
307 
THE AT^ATID^. 
This family includes a very large number of important and interesting birds, of wbicb the 
Duck is the type. The distin- 
guishing characteristic is the 
bill, Avhich is usually of a flat- 
tened form, covered ^\ \^h a soft 
skin, and furnished at the edges 
with a series of lamellae, which 
serve to sift or strain the mud 
in which they generally seek 
their food. The feet are fur- 
nished with four toes, three of 
which are directed forward, and 
united by a web ; the fourth is 
directed backward, usually of 
small size, and quite free. They 
■are admirable swimmers, and 
live and move on the water with 
the utmost security, ease, and 
grace. Such is their adaptation 
to water, that the young birds, 
immediately after being hatched, 
will run to it and fearlessly 
launch themselves upon its bosom, rowing themselves along with their webbed feet, without a 
single lesson, and yet as dexterously as the most experienced boatman. This order includes not 
only the Ducks, of which there arc many kinds, but Oeese, Swans, Flamingoes, &c. These arc 
generally inhabitants of the fresh waters, and, for the most part, prefer ponds and shallow lakes, 
in which they can investigate the bottom with their peculiar bills, without actually diving beneath 
the surface ; yet at some seasons they ai-e found along the borders of the sea. Their food gener- 
ally consists of worms, mollusca, and aquatic insects, winch they separate from the mud by the 
agency of the lamellae at the margins of the bill ; but most of them also feed upon seeds, fruits, 
TilE MALLAUD. 
now from another. Happening by chance to approach the cabin-door nCisfglessly, When, as he thought, the bird sup- 
posed itself to be alone, he heard it singing in the most plaintive manner, and at intervals talking in an unknown 
language. Watching it more narrowly, he observed that it was .standing before a looking-glass, and holding a tender 
colloquy with its own image. On his entering, it seemed ashamed, and flew to the other side of the cabin. 
"At length the ship arrived at a small island, where, during its staj-, several chiefs came on board, and were in- 
vited into the cabin. The mariner was surprised to behold thorn fall on :their knees, bow their heads, and mutter a 
prayer to this bird. Upon inquiry, the mariner found, it was their god, who, having gone out upon the ocean for an 
airing, had lost his way, and owed his preservation to the fortunate accident of meetinjr with a ship. The cMefi 
offered a large sum of money for his ransom ; but the generous mariner, respecting their prejudices, or else pitying 
their weakness, restored them their divinity, M'ithout even charging for his board and lodging 
"In Europe— though the plumage of the birds be less brilliant, which may account, perhaps, for their being held 
in less respect— ships sometimes present the .appearance of a moving aviary. A vessel sailing through the Bay of 
Biscay, a considerable distance from land, became the resting-place of a goldfinch and chaffinch ; snipes, also, and a 
white owl, flew round the ship; and, what was more surprising, a hawk appeared in the midst of large numbers of 
swallows and martins. To explain this phenomenon, we must suppose that the migratory instinct subdues for a sea- 
son the instinct of ferocity, otherwise the white owl and the hawk would have feasted forthwith upon their compan- 
ions. Finding themselves to be fellow-travelers with smaller and more defenseless birds, and looking upon the ship 
as a wandering caravansary, they respected the rites of hospitalitv, and for several days lived amono- their inferiors 
with equal gentleness and condescension. Another visitant to the same ship was a hen redstart, which entered 
through the port-holes over the guns, and was daily fed by the sailors. Having reposed as long as was needful, these 
little wayfarers took their leave— we may presume on their way to Africa, since the ship seems to have been descend- 
ing from a higher to a lower latitude, and thus afforded the emigrants a welcome lift. On board the same vessel a 
small galhnule and a kestrel hawk were caught at a distance of four hundred and twenty-four miles from land. 
" It IS highly probable that, if our naval officers were in general fonder of natural history, we should obtain from 
them extremely curious particulars respecting the habits of migratory birds. The oldest of the Greek poets alludes, 
m many parts of his poems, to the migration of cranes, which are so strong of wing that it may be presumed they 
