Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1896 — SKATES IN ITS FEET. [ARTICLE]

SKATES IN ITS FEET.

Th* Peculiar Formation of a Philadelphia Duck. There is a remarkable duck in the lake which will probably prove the only one of its class that ever has been discovered. says the Philadelphia Press. It is a large, snow-white bird, whose plumage is so luxuriant that it would fill a good-sized pillow. Its wings, ■ when spread out. cover an area of four j feet seven Inches by three feet and a half. The wings are very peculiar, being jointed very close to the body. This enables it to bend them in such a way as to form a tent. In terrible winter storms in its native land it finds this verj’ useful. When the skies o'erdoud ■ and the wind liegins whistling merry I tunes through the icebergs this cute ■ and cautions duck erects his wing tentl above his shivering self, ami goes to sleep in peace, knowing that when the snow and sleet descends it will prote I harmless.

As soon as the cool weather was scented those who watched this wonderful duck noticed that a peculiar growth was forming on his feet. As the weather grew cooler the growth grew more pronounced. It appears to be a thick cartilaginous substance which gradually extended. It looked like another toe. and it was thought at first that the bird was going to be malformed. But instead of stopping when the growth reached the size of the other toes, it kept right on. It grew to he alxmt six inches long, and then the end of it took a curious turn. Instead of turning down like a claw, it curled up and round in a picturesque loop. Then it gradually hardened. What on earth caused this curious growth was a puzzle. What could it I be for? Was it simply a malformation. or some adjunct necessary for the duck's happiness? Finally the solution was discovered. The duck laid skates on. The peculiar formation was just like the “skees" of the Norsemen. More than probable the “skees” were actually pat term'd after this growth. These skates were invaluable to the duck iu his native land, where ice aud snow, with heavy crust, covered the face of the earth and the deep. Travel by swimming was largely tied up by this ice. Wading afoot was slow and tedious, so kind nature provided a better and quicker way. skating. All the duck had to do was to spread out its immense wings, stand firmy on its skates, and whiz lie would go spinning over the surface of snow and ice at a high rate of speed. With the approach of warm weather these “skates,” or rather this formation. fall off. and the feet arc similar to those of any other duck. Then when winter comes again it makes its j appearance once more, and gradually j grows to its full size. A peculiar characteristic of the duck is that during the . the period of getting its skates on it is ! ill and avoids all food. It drinks a great deal, however, but this is not enough to keep it alive. Consequently, it is likely to die at any minute during i this time. It also keeps out of sight, i and only close search will discover the ■ bird until its skates are fully formed, I This duck has never been fully de- ! scribed by scientists, owing to its extreme rarity. It is known by the name of Fakeducus Maxiums.