going
for the first time to a circus--now he is really to see the things he
has dreamed of so long; now all heaven is his.

And, curiously enough, he was not disappointed. Downey was a rough,
vigorous business man. He took no notice of the boys beyond a brief
"Morning, Sam," till he saw that Yan was making very fair sketches.
All the world loves an artist, and now there was danger of too much
assistance.

The cases could not be opened, but were swung around and shades
raised to give the best light. Yan went at once to the bird he
had "far-sketched" on the pond. To his surprise, it was a female
Wood-duck. He put in the whole afternoon drawing those Ducks, male
and female, and as Downey had more than fifty specimens Yan felt like
Aladdin in the Fairy Garden--overpowered with abundance of treasure.
The birds were fairly well labelled with the popular names, and Yan
brought away a lot of sketches, which made him very happy. These he
afterward carefully finished and put together in a Duck Chart that
solved many of his riddles about the Common Duck.

* * * * *

[Illustration: The Fish-Ducks, Sawbills, or Mergansers]

[Illustration: The River Ducks]

(See description below.)

Far-sketches showing common Ducks as seen on the water at about 50
yards distance. The pair is shown in each square, the male above.

N.B. The wings are rarely seen when the bird is swimming.

THE FISH-DUCK, SAWBILLS OR MERGANSERS

Largely white and all are crested, wings with large white areas in
flight.

1. The Shelldrake or Goosander (_Merganser americanus_).
Bill, feet and eye red.

2. The Sawbill or Red-breasted Merganser (_Merganser
serrator_). Bill and feet red.

3. Hooded Merganser (_Lophodytes cucullatus_). Bill and feet
dark, paddle-box buff.

THE RIVER DUCKS

The males usually with shining green and black on head and wings,
the females streaky gray-brown.

4. Mallard _(Anas boschas_). Red feet; male has pale,
greenish bill. Known in flight by white tail feathers and thin
white bar on wing.

5. Black Duck or Dusky Duck (_Anas obscura_). Dark bill, red
feet, no white except in flight, then shows white lining of wings.

6. Gadwall or Gray Duck (_Anas strepera_). Beak
flesh-coloured on edges, feet reddish, a white spot on wing
showing in flight.

7. Widgeon or Baldpate (_A. am