the eggs; and,
whenever she left to procure food, or to take a short swim on the
pond, she carefully covered them.

The duck cannot spread her wings as wide as the hen, so she has to be
much more particular about her nest. She makes it deeper and warmer
than Biddy. It is wonderful with what skill all animals rear their
young. It shows the great goodness and kindness of God, that he should
thus fit the creatures he has made for the duties they must perform.
His care is continual, not only over us, but over them all. He hears
the young ravens when they cry, and the ducks and the chickens are not
forgotten by him. To the duck he has not given the brooding wings of
the hen-mother; but he has given her a coat of down, from which she
can make a warm bed for her cherished eggs.

It was a very pretty sight to see Lily on her nest, almost covered by
the straw, her head turned back, and her broad yellow bill partially
hidden beneath her wing. The down lay scattered about like
snow-flakes. She looked patient and hopeful, as she opened her eyes to
see who had intruded on her solitude.

When a sitting-duck goes in search of food, she acts so queerly that
you would surely laugh to see her, if you are not accustomed to her
odd ways. She bends her head back, and draws it close to her body, and
waddles about in the greatest haste, quacking all the time.

Lily waited four weeks before the ducklings appeared. Some of the
brood were of a straw-colour, and some were marked with spots of
black. They were all pretty. When I first saw them, they were partly
hidden beneath their mother. Their glossy bills and bright eyes were
visible, but they were afraid to venture from their shelter. They were
provided with water and food in the old rabbit-house, because, if they
followed their mother to the pond, the musk-rats would probably devour
some of them.

While the little ones remained with their mother, they were safe, but
when they became discontented, and wandered from home, they were
sometimes lost. The rats were their principal enemies, and those from
which they had most to fear. They were constantly lurking about to
catch the ducklings, and sometimes the defenseless little ones ran
directly into their deep holes, from which there was no possibility of
escape. Quite a number of Lily's family came to an untimely end in
this way.

When I saw them roving about in the high grass, seeking in vain to
find their way to their mother's presence,