. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. . DOMESTIC AND WILD DUCKS. 221 They neither of them regain their more briUiant dress until the endof autumn. There are numerous instances proving that Wild Ducks are sus-ceptible of attachment to man; and it is certain that they can beeasily tamed. They also breed readily with the domestic Duck ; andthe crossed birds thus produced are said to have a superior flavour,and fatten with faciUty. Mr. St. John, in his Wild Sports in theHighlands, remarks that he has fre
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. . DOMESTIC AND WILD DUCKS. 221 They neither of them regain their more briUiant dress until the endof autumn. There are numerous instances proving that Wild Ducks are sus-ceptible of attachment to man; and it is certain that they can beeasily tamed. They also breed readily with the domestic Duck ; andthe crossed birds thus produced are said to have a superior flavour,and fatten with faciUty. Mr. St. John, in his Wild Sports in theHighlands, remarks that he has frequently caught and brought home. Fig. 84.—Open Duck-shooting. young Wild Ducks. If confined in a yard with tame birds for a weekor two, they strike up a companionship which keeps them from wan-dering when set at liberty. Some years ago I brought home three, twoof which turned out to be drakes. I sent away my tame ducks, and thenext season I had a large family of half-bred and wholly Wild Ducks,as the tame and wild bred together quite freely. The Wild Duckswhich have been caught turned out the tamest of all, throwing offall shyness, they follow their feeder, and will eat corn out of the handof any one they know; while the half-bred birds are inclined to takewing and fly away for the purpose of making their nests at a distance. 222 REPTILES AND BIRDS. The flesh of the Wild Duck is much esteemed. But they are birdswhich are very difficult to approach, in consequence of their sus-picious nature ; and in order to get even a long shot at them, it isnecessary to have recourse to stratagem. Even when successful inyour aim,
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