preparing against them. The wild Ducks, therefore, pursuing the decoy Ducks, are led into the broad mouth of the channel or pipe, nor have the least suspicion of the man, who keeps hidden behind one of the hedges. When they have got up the pipe, however, finding it grow more and more narrow, they begin to suspect danger, and would return back; but they are now prevented by the man, who shows himself at the broad end below. Thither, therefore, they dare not return; and rise they may not, as they are kept by the net above from ascending. The only way left them, therefore, is the narrow-funneled net at the bottom; into this they fly, and there they are taken.

It often happens, however, that the wild fowl are in such a state of sleepiness or dozing, that they will not follow the decoy ducks. Use is then generally made of a dog who is taught his lesson. He passes backward and forward between the reedhedges, in which there are little holes, both for the decoy man to see, and for the little dog to pass through. This attracts the eye of the wild fowl; who, prompted by curiosity, advance towards this little animal, while he all the time keeps playing among the reeds, nearer and nearer the funnel, till they follow him too far to recede. Sometimes the dog will not attract their attention till a red handkerchief, or something very singular, be put about him. The decoy Ducks never enter the funnelnet with the rest, being taught to dive under water as soon as the rest are driven in.

To this manner of taking wild fowl in England, we will subjoin another still more extraordinary, frequently practised in China. Whenever the fowler sees a number of Ducks settled in any particular plash of water, he sends off two or three gourds to float among them. These gourds resemble our pompions; but, being made hollow, they swim on the surface of the water; and on one pool

there may sometimes be seen twenty or thirty of these gourds floating together. The fowl at first are a little shy at coming near them; but by degrees they come nearer; and as all birds at last grow familiar with a scarecrow, the Ducks gather about these, and amuse themselves by whetting their bills against them. When the birds are as familiar with the gourds as the fowler could wish, he then prepares to deceive them in good earnest. He hollows out one of these gourds large enough to put his head in; and making holes to breathe and see through, he claps it on his head. Thus accoutred, he wades slowly into the water, keeping his body under, and nothing but his head in the gourd above the surface; and in that manner moves imperceptibly towards the fowls, who suspect no danger. At last, however, he fairly gets in they, having been long used to see least fright while the enemy is in the very midst of them; and an insidious enemy he is; for ever as he approaches a fowl, he seizes it by the legs, and draws it in a jerk under water. There he fastens it under his girdle, and goes to the next, till he has thus loaded himself with as many as he can carry away. When he has got this quantity, with ut ever attempting to disturb the rest of the fowls on the pool, he slowly moves off again; and, in this manner, pays the flock three or four visits in a day. Of all the various artifices for catching fowl, this seems likely to be attended with the greatest success, and is the most practised in China.

among them; while gourds, take not the

AMERICAN DUCKS.

We have extracted the following list of Ducks, found in America, from Wilson's Ornithology.

The EIDER DUCK is found on the American as well as

the European shores, from 45° north to the highest latitudes yet discovered. It is said to breed as far south as Portland in Maine.

THE BLACK, OR SURF DUCK is a fine large species peculiar to America, and confined to the shores and bays of the sea.

THE VELVET DUCK is sometimes confounded with the Black Duck, but is smaller. It is common on the northern shores of Europe, and on those of Kamtschatka.

THE SCOTU DUCK abounds on the northern shores of both continents.

THE RUDDY DUCK appears to have recently made its appearance on the shores of the Middle States, and resembles the Ural Duck of Europe. Its colour is that of bright mahogany.

THE CANVASS-BACK DUCK is a very celebrated species unknown in Europe. They appear in the United States about the middle of October, and great numbers of them are found on the rivers near Chesapeake Bay. The Canvass-back, in the rich juicy tenderness of its flesh, and its delicacy and flavour, stands unrivalled by the whole of its tribe in perhaps any other part of the world. They sometimes sell from one to three dollars a pair. Its length is about two feet, and its weight two pounds.

THE RED-HEADED DUCK is a common associate of the Canvass-back, and its flesh is very little inferior. It is perhaps the Red-headed Widgeon of Europe.

THE SCAUP DUCK is common to both continents, and feeds on shell fish called Scaup.

THE TUFTED DUCK is a short plump bird, supposed by Wilson to be the same as the European bird of that name; but Charles Bonaparte has shown it to be a distinct species.

THE GOLDEN EYE is well known in Europe and in various parts of the United States. It may be easily known by the whistling of its wings as it passes through the air.

THE BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK, called also the Butterbox or Butter-ball, is common on the sea shores, rivers and lakes of the United States.

THE LONG-TAILED DUCK is common to both continents. They are often called Old Wives in the United States; and on the Chesapeake they go by the name of South Southerly, from their cry.

The Pied Duck is a scarce species, and is found only in salt water. It appears to be peculiar to America.

THE HARLEQUIN DUCK is found in Europe as well as America. At Hudson's Bay, it is called the Painted Duck; in New England, the Lord.

THE PELICAN.

The GREAT WHITE PELICAN OF AFRICA is much larger than a swan. Its four toes are all webbed together; and its neck, in some measure, resembles that of a swan : but that singularity in which it differs from all other birds, is in the bill, and the great pouch underneath, which are wonderful, and demand a distinct description. This enormous bill is fifteen inches from the point to the opening of the mouth, which is a good way back behind the eyes. The base of the bill is somewhat greenish; but it varies towards the end, being of a reddish blue. To the lower edges of the under chap hangs a bag, reaching the whole length of the bill to the neck, which is said to be capable of containing fifteen quarts of water. This bag the bird has a power of wrinkling up into the hollow of the under chap; but, by opening the bill, and putting one's hand down into the bag, it may be distended at pleasure. It is not

covered with feathers, but a short downy substance, as smooth and soft as satin. Tertre affirms, that this pouch will hold as many fish as will serve sixty hungry men for a meal. Such is the formation of this extraordinary bird, which is a native of Africa and America. It was once also known in Europe, particularly in Russia; but it seems to have deserted those coasts.

The plumage of the Pelican which is now in the Tower of London, is, all but the quill feathers of the wings, which are black, of an extremely light and delicate flesh colour, varied only by occasional darker tinges. Except on the temples, which are naked and flesh coloured, the head and upper part of the neck are clothed with a short down.