Several species of ducks may sometimes be seen in one flock, fishing
together in perfect harmony. It is quite astonishing how long they can
stay under water, and when they come up their feathers are not wet at
all.
The most beautiful of these fishing-ducks is the hooded merganser. Its
plumage is most elegant, and it has a large thick tuft or crest of
feathers covering the whole head, which gives it a sort of military
look; and, indeed, it seems to be a commander, for it leads all of its
relatives. It sometimes stays so long under the water that I begin to
fear something has happened,--that an alligator, or some other huge
beast, has got hold of it; but it always makes its appearance after a
while, often at quite a long distance from where it went under.
NAN'S PEACE-OFFERING.
BY KATE W. HAMILTON.
"Just wish I was properer, and everything--so there!" said Nannie,
sitting discontentedly down upon the green grass by the road-side, and
surveying herself with a pair of very serious brown eyes.
It was a forlorn little self, surely, with wet dress, muddy shoes, inky
apron, and crumpled sun-bonnet.
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