The reclaimed breeds of this species assume very vari ous markings, but the male, or Drake, even in confine ment, retains the curling of the tail feathers. Habits of domestication, however, have deprived the tame duck of that sprightly shape and air which distinguish the mallard. It is also deserving of remark, that ducks pair, and are monogamous in the wild state, but become polygamous when tame. The Chinese make great use of this species, but prefer the tame to the wild. We are told that most of them in that country are hatched by artificial heat. The eggs being laid in boxes containing sand, are placed on a brick hearth, to which is communicated a proper degree of heat during the time required for hatching. The duck lings are fed with cray-fish and crabs, boiled and cut small, and afterwards mixed with boiled rice; and,in about a fortnight, they are fit to provide for themselves. The proprietors then furnish them with an old sten-mother, who leads them where they are to find provender, being first put on board a boat, which is destined for thcir habi tation, and from which the whole flock, amounting often to three or four hundred, go out to feed and return at command. This method is commonly practised during the nine warmest months of the year, and especially dur ing the rice-harvest, when the masters of the duck-boats row up and down, according to the opportunity of procur ing food, which is found in plenty at the tide of ebb, as the rice plantations are overflowed at high water. It is curious to observe how, these birds obey their masters; for some thousands belonging to different boats, will feed at large on the same spot ; and, on a given signal, w ill follow their leader to their respective boats, without a single stranger being found among them. No fewer than forty thousand boats of this description are supposed to ply on the Tigris.
When confined to dry situations, ducks degenerate in strength, beauty, and flavour. They feed on various animal and vegetable substances, for which they unceas ingly search with their curiously constructed bills, sifting and separating every alimentary particle from the mud. They also devour worms, spawn, water-insects, and some times frogs and small fishes, together with various seeds of bog and water plants. They are particularly fond of Potentilla anserina; or silver-weed. When ducks-and geese fly backwards and forwards, when they plunge fre quently in the water, or begin to send forth cries, they generally intimate the approach of rain or sturmy wea ther. The down of ducks is considerably elastic, and is used for pillows, beds, &c, being regularly sold, for these purposes, in Normandy, where large quantities of these fowls are reared. As they are excellent vermin pickers, they may be turned into the garden one or two days a week, through the season, so as to clear away caterpillars, slugs, snails, and other insects within their reach ; hut, if kept longer in than two or three (lays at a time, they be come indolent. If there is no pond or stream in the gar den, they should have a little water set down to them. It will also be proper to keep them out during heavy rains, or in continued wet weather, especially if the soil be stiff; for they patter and harden the surface, to the great injury of small crops and rising seeds.
Many people in the town and neighbourhood of Ayles bury, in Buckinghamshire, derive support from their peculiar skill in breeding and rearing ducks. For the
gratification of artificial wants, they reverse the order of nature, and, by a restriction of food and other means, prevent the ducks from laying till the months of October and November. Some weeks previous to the time that they wish them to lay, the ducks are fed with stimulating provisions; and, when the eggs are ready, they are put under a hen, which is frequently obliged to continue in the nest till three successive broods are hatched. By this treatment, the poor creature is generally exhausted, and dies under her compulsory duty. When the young leave the shell, they are placed near a fire, and nursed with particular care. Thus many ducklings are sent, at Christmas, to the metropolis, where they have been known to fetch front fifteen shillings to a guinea the couple.
A. strepera, Lin. Sce. Gadwell, or Grey, Prov. Bodge. Head and neck marked with brown points, on a grey ground; under part of the neck, the back and breast, with black crescents; the scapulars and flanks, with blackish and white zig-zag lines; middle wing coverts rufous-chesnut ; great coverts, rump, and under tail-co verts, deep black; bill black ; iris bay ; tarsi and toes orange ; webs blackish. Birds of this species breed in the desert marshes of the north, where they reside dur ing the spring and summer ; but, on the approach of winter, they quit the European and Siberian parts of Rus sia, Sweden, ke. and usually avail themselves of a strong north-easterly wind, to convey them southward, in No vember, when they appear on the coasts of Holland, France, Ste. but they are rarely met with in the country. Over North America they are pretty generally diffused. The female nestles in moist meadows, among rushes, or in the holes of trees, and lays about eight or nine greenish cinereous eggs. These birds swim and dive with wonder ful facility, seldom appearing in the day-time ; and they are shot with great difficulty, as they plunge down the moment that they perceive the flash of the pan. The flesh is savoury.
A. acuta, Lin. Etc. Pintail Duck, Prow. White Duck, Sea Pheasant, or Cracker. Tail pointed ; elongated ; black beneath ; a white line on each side of the occiput ; the back waved with cinereous. Length of the male twenty-eight inches; weight twenty-four ounces. 'rite female is smaller, and somewhat duller in her attire. Colonel Montagu ascertained that the males moult twice a-year, which has occasioned some discrepancy in the accounts of the colours of their plumage. Although the pintail ducks breed in the moist wastes of the north, they are very restive, sometimes wandering as far south as Italy in Europe, and Louisiana in America, while they are known to brave the severest winters of Sweden, Russia, Siberia, Canada, Ste. They are seldom numer ous in England ; but flocks of them are frequently dis persed along the isles and shores of Scotland and Ireland ; and, during hard winters, they betake themselves to the inland lakes of this and other European countries. The female lays eight or ten greenish-blue eggs. She will also breed in confinement ; and Lord Stanley had a hy brid brood of the female pintail and the male wigeon. The notes of the pintail are soft and inward; the courting call is always attended with a jerk of the head, and the more ordinary one resembles that of a very young kitten. The flesh of this opcuico is much esteemed.