The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-01-17
Al DUCK Thai SKATES.
II Belongs to Rare and Pscslia
Species.

Species.
Cool, chilling winds swept down tho
Schuyllkill and incidentally touched up
the animals ut the Geological gardens.
who had been growing at the suitry
weather of the past few days. All the
birds Of the air and the beasts Of the
field and the reptiles that are sus-
ceptible to the cold have been taken
into winter quarters and made to feel
as comfortable as possible. The
flowers and plants that made the gar
den thing of beauty have been re-
moved to the Conservatives, SO, conse-
quently, the cool, chilling winds found
everything ready for them.
There is remarkable duck in the
lake which win probably prove the only
one of its class that ever has been dis
covered. 1t is large, snow-white bird.
whose plumage is SO luxuriant that it
would fill good-sized pillow. Its
wings, when spread out, cover an area
of four feet seven inches by three feet
six inches. The wings are very Pc
culiar, being jointed very close to the
body. This enables it to bend them in
rible winter storms in its native land it
finds this very useful. When the skies
o'ercloud and the wind begins whist
ling merry tunes through the icebergs
this duck erects his wing tent above
his shivering self, and goes to sleep in
peace, knowing that when the snow
and sleet descend it will prove harm
less.
As soon as the cool weather was
scented those who watched this WON
derful duck noticed that a peculiar
growth was forming on his feet. As
the weather grew cooler the growth
grew more and more pronounced. 1t
appeared to be thick cartilaginous
substance, which gradually extended
1t looked like another toe, and it was
thought at first that the bird was go
ing to be malformed. But, instead of
stopping when the growth reached the
size of the other toes, it kept right on
1t grew to be about six inches long,
and then the end of it took curious
turn. Instead of turning down like q
claw, it curled up and round in q pic
turesque loop. Then it gradually har-
dened.
What on earth caused this curious
growth was puzzle. What could it be
for? Was it simply a malformation
or some adjunct necessary for the
ducks happiness? Finally the solu-
ton was discovered. The duck had
skates on. The peculiar formation
was just like the "skees" of the Morse
men. More than probably the 'skees"
were actually patterned after this
growth. These skates were invaluable
to the duck in his native land, where ice
and snow, with heavy crust, cover the
face of the earth and the deep. Travel
by swimming was largely tied up by
this ice. Waddling afoot was slow and
tedious, so kind nature provided bet
ter and quicker way, skating. All the
duck had to do was to spread out his
immense wings, stand firmly on his
skates and whiz he would go spinning
over the surface of snow and ice at q
high rate of speed. With the approach
off, and the feet are similar to those
of any other duck.
A peculiar characteristic of the duck
is that during the period of getting it's
skates on it is i'll and avoids all food.
1t drinks great deal, however, but this
is not enough to keep it alive. Conse-
quently it is likely to die at any minute
during this time. 1t also keeps out of
sight, and only close search will dis
cover the bird until its skates are fully
This duck has never been
fully described by scientists, owing to
it's extreme rarity. 1t is known by the
name of Fakeducus Maximus.-Phila-
lelphia Press.
Popular kallacy.