DUCKS AND THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1081, 10 March 1883, Page 3

DUCKS AND THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

As the 6teamer Elliott was coming up the river the other night, says the Chicago Tribune, the passengers and crew were startled by a singular whistling sound in the air all about the boat. No one could account for the noise, and the more they tried the more unaccountable it seemed. Captain Postal went to the electrical machine and turned on the light, 809-candle power. In a moment the whole foggy river was flooded with light, and it was seen that the noiso proceeded from an inumerablo colony of wild ducks on their way southward. The blinding glare startled the fowl, and, rising in grent crowds, they began flying straight at ths hmp. For twenty minutes the boat waa literally full of ducks. Some of them would hit heavily against the glass around the light, and fall stunned to the deck. Others fell in the faces of the men, and were knocked down with sticks and canes. In all several hun dred were s?cured. Thirty six were found concealed in different parts of the cabin in the morning when the boat came into the wharf at St Louis. Others were found about the boilers and in the engine room, and a great number were killed by the wheels. The ducks were mostly in the water when the boat ran into the immense flock, and when the electric light was turned ou them they seemed to grow crazy with fear. They rose in great droves and whirled around in the air before dashing themselves against the lamp.