kindly sends us the following singular instance of intelligence
and affection on the part of a duck. 'We have,' he tells us, 'two
white ducks; the one designated Mr Yellowbill being wonderfully
intelligent, yet fond of fun. My little son and he have great
games together. The lad throws out an india-rubber ball a longer
or shorter distance, leaving it for the bird to decide whether it
shall be pursued with a flying or a running movement. In either
case, the ball is swiftly seized by duckie, and returned to the
thrower, who keeps up the game until both have had enough of it.
Another peculiarity of Mr Yellowbill may be mentioned. At the
splashing of water from an adjacent well he is aroused, and will
instantly fly towards the scene of action, plunge in, bathe, jump
out, flap his wings joyfully, and "like a bird," take himself
off again. But the story of affection for his kind must now be
told. The other day, when swinging on a gate, my little boy felt
something tugging at his trousers, and on looking round discovered
the duck, who, he supposed, invited him to a game at ball. So down
he got, and caressed his feathered friend as the preliminary. The
duck, however, continued pulling away in so unusual and persistent
a manner that the lad decided to go whither he was led; and lo! at
the corner of an outbuilding was found poor Mrs Yellowbill, lame
of a leg and quite unable to waddle along. Meanwhile her husband
continued to manifest the greatest concern about her, yet did
not forget his manners and grateful acknowledgments, but bowed
and better bowed to those around who had now come to the rescue;
shewing that even a duck may act and feel as a gentleman. The cause
of hurt referred to has not been ascertained; but happily Mrs
Yellowbill is now quite well, and her husband is as lively as ever.'
LENACHLUTEN,
A WATERFALL IN ARGYLESHIRE.
'Mong crags where the purple heather grows,
'Mid rocks where blooms the mountain rose,
Onward the river calmly flows
To Lenachluten.
The waters dash on the rocks beneath
In a mad wild rush, they surge and seethe,
While dancing spray with a snowy wreath
Crowns Lenachluten.
Thus ever the stream of life flows on,
With faces happy and faces wan,
A moment here on this earth, then gone,
Like Lenachluten.
Some lives pass on like a peaceful dream;
Untouched by sorrow or care, they seem
To glide as the river whose waters stream
Towards Lenachluten.
Others career on their restless way;
Whate'er betide, they are ever gay,
As gleams the sparkling sunlit spray
On Lenachluten.
Some lives with folly and sin are fraught;
They dim earth's beauty with stain and spot,
As surges the scum, an ugly blot
On Lenachluten.
And now and again a genius bright
Dazzles the earth with his spirit's flight,
As shimmers the rainbow's tinted light
O'er Lenachluten.
H. K. W.
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Printed and Published by W. & R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row,
LONDON, and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH.
* * * * *
_All Rights Reserved._