DUG 
fvib terraneous lake, their ftomachs are found to 
contain numbers of fmall filhes, on which they 
miift neceffarily have fubfifted during their conti- 
nuance in that fituation. 
Duck, Wild. The difference between Wild 
Ducks arifes principally from their fize and the 
nature of thoie places from whence they derive 
their fubfiftence. The fea Duck, which frequents 
the fait water, and often amufes itfelf with diving, 
has a broad bill pointing upwards, a large toe be- 
hind, and along blunted tailj but the pond Duck 
has a ftraight and narrow bill, a fmall hind toe, and 
a fharp-poinced tail. Decoy-men give the form- 
er the appellation of the foreign Duck; but the 
latter is fuppofed to be a native of England. 
The feveral varieties of Wild Ducks imitate our 
domeflic breed in affociating together in flocks 
during the winter, flying in pairs in the fummer, 
rearing their young by the water-fide, and con- 
ducing them to their food as foon as they are pro- 
truded from their fliells. They ufuallv build their 
neils among heath or ruflies, at a finall diflrance 
from the water; and generally lay twelve or more 
eggs before they begin to fit. But though this is 
their ufual method of procedure, their dangerous 
fituation on the ground fometimes induces them 
to fliift their habitations; and accordingly their 
inartificial nefts are at times feen exalted on the 
tops of trees: thefe ftations, however, muft: in- 
fallibly be attended with much trouble and diffi- 
culty, efpecially as the bills of Ducks feem but ill 
adapted for conftrufting nefls with fuch durable 
materials as are capable of refifting the inconflancy 
of the weather. The nefts thus elevated are ge- 
nerally compofed of long grafs mixed with heath 
and lined with feathers; but, in proportion as the 
climate becom.es colder, they are more artificially 
conftrufted, and provided with warmer linings. 
In the arftic regions, all birds of this genus are 
at incredible pains in protedling their eggs from 
the inclemencies of the weather: the gull and the 
penguin tribes, indeed, feem to difregard the moft 
intenfe cold peculiar to thofe climes ; but the Duck 
forms a hole for herfelf; fhelters the approach to 
it ; lines it with a layer of grafs and clay, and ano- 
ther of mofs within that ; and, laftly, a warm co- 
vering of down or feathers. 
As theie fowls pofTefs the faculties of flying and 
fwimming, they are principally birds of paffage, 
and probably perform their journies acrofs the 
ocean as well on the water as in the air. Thofe 
which vifit this country on the approach of winter 
are feldom either fb fat or well-flavoured as the 
Ducks which continue with us the whole year; 
their flcfh is often very lean ; and it has generally 
afifliy tafte, which difagreeable flavour it probably 
contrails during the journey; the food of thefe 
birds in the Lapland lakes, from whence they de- 
fcend, being generally of the infe6l kind. 
As foon as they arrive in this ifland, they fly 
about in fearch of proper winter refidences ; in the 
choice of which they feem to have two objects in 
view, nam.ely, plenty of food, and fecurity from 
interruption. To this end, they prefer lakes in 
the vicinities of marflies and thickets, where infecfls 
are moft plentiful : a pool, therefore, which has a 
marfh on one fide, and a wood on the other, is fel- 
dom without vaft quantities of wild fowl ; where a 
few have once fixed their refidence, numbers are in- 
duced to fetde ; and Ducks flying in the air are 
often allured down from their heights by the loud 
voice of the mallard from below. Nature feems 
to have endowed this bird witli very particular fa- 
culties for this purpofc: the wind-pipe, where it be- 
gins to enter the lungs, opens into a kind of bony 
cavity, from which the found is reverberated as in 
a mufical inftrument, and heard at a great diftance; 
to this call all the ftragglers refort; and, in a very 
fhort time, a lake which before was altogether def- 
titute of fuch inhabitants, appears covered with 
water-fov/1 tliat have lefr dieir Lapland retreats, in 
order to afTociate with the natives of this ifland. 
Wild Ducks generally prefer thofe parts of a 
lake which are nx)ft inaccefllble to the fowler, 
where they all appear as if huddled together, and 
extremely bufy and clamorous. In what fort of 
employment they are occupied for whole days toge- 
ther, it is not eafy to conjecture; where they fit 
and cabal thus, it feems impoffible for them to find 
food, being generally the very centre of the lalcej 
and as to courtfhip, the feafon of love is not then 
. arrived : all of them, however, appear to be loaded 
with induftry; nor does a fingle individual among 
them feem to be one moment at reft. 
They frequently move off privately by night, 
in order to feed in the adjacent meadows anci 
ditches, which they are afraid to approach by day : 
during thefe noilurnal adventures, many of them 
are often captured ; for, though naturally timorous, 
they are eafily deceived, and caught by means of 
fpringes. The greateft quantities, however, ar^ 
taken in decoys, v/hich are well known in Lin- 
colnftiire, the great magazine of wild fowl in this 
kingdom, as well as in Somerfetfliire, and fbmc. 
other counties. Thefe decoys are thus prepared and 
conduced. A proper fpot is pitched on at a 
diftance from any public road, as well as from 
houfes and noife. A decoy is moft eligible where 
there is a large pond furrounded by a wood, and 
beyond that a marfhy and uncultivated country.. 
The place being chofen, the water muft, if pofTi-. 
ble, be furrounded with willows, unlefs the woods 
naturally fhade it in every direftion. On the fouth 
and north fide of the pond, two, three, or four ditches 
or channels, ftiould be made, broader towards the. 
water, and gradually narrowing till they termi- 
nate in a point : thefe channels fhould be covered 
over with nets, fupported by hooped fticks bend- 
ing from one fide to the other, fo as to form a 
vault or arch growing narrower and narrower to 
the point, where it fliould be terminated by a tun- 
nel net; along the banks of thefe netted channels 
many hedges fhould be made of reeds flanting to 
the edges of the gutters, their acute angles being 
towards the fide next the pool; and the whole ap- 
paratus fhould alfo be concealed from the pool by 
a marginal hedge of reeds, behind which the ope- 
rations of the fowler are conduced. 
Matters being thus fettled, the fowler, who is ' 
provided with a num.ber of Ducks termed decoys, 
which are rendered tame by education, and ac- 
cuftomed to attend their mafter on being fum- 
moned by a whiftle, fets them to feed at the mouths 
of the pipes. No fooner does the evening com- 
mence, than J^e decoy ri/es, to ufe the language, 
of fowlers, and the wild fovd feed during the night. 
Should the evening be ftill, the noife of their, 
wings during their flight is heard at a confiderable 
diftance, and produces no unpleafing fenfation. 
The fowler, whenever a fit opportunity offers, and 
he fees his decoy covered with fowl, walks about, 
the pond, and obferves into what pipe or channel 
the afl^embled Bucks may be enticed or driven 
with the greateft facility : then throv/ing hempleed,,, 
or 
