BRITISH BIRDS. 
335 
where they are long confined to fuch dry places, 
they degenerate in both ftrength and beauty, and 
lofe much of the fine flavour of thofe which are 
reared in fpots more congenial to their nature. 
That thefe, and fuch like watery places, which their 
health requires for them to wafti, dive, feed, reft, 
and fport in, are not better tenanted by thefe ufe- 
ful and pretty birds, is much to be regretted, and 
marks ftrongly a falling off — a want of induftry * 
in thofe females to whofe lot it falls, and whofe 
duty it is to contribute their quota of attention to 
thefe lefler but not uninterefting branches of rural 
economy. Were this done, and ponds made in 
aid of the purpofe in every fuitable contiguous fitu- 
ation, there can be no doubt but that a multiplied 
ftock of Ducklings, to an inconceivable amount, 
might be annually reared with a comparatively tri- 
fling additional expence ; for the various undif- 
tinguilhable animal and vegetable fubftances upon 
which they chiefly live, and for which they unceaf- 
ingly fearch with their curioufly conftrudled bills, 
fifting and feparating every alimentary particle from 
the mud, unlefs fed upon by them, are totally loft. 
When older, they alfo devour worms, fpawn, wa- 
ter infers, and fometimes frogs and fmall fifties, — 
together with the various feeds of bog and water 
* “ The thrifty hufwife is aye weel kend by her fonfy fwarms- 
o’ bonny chucky burdies,” Scotch Proverb. 
