Show ducks wise to numbers select position in line we often observe ducks marching in single file never does one crowd ahead of another never do they bunch Is there any reason for this perhaps this little incident will in form us writes C A in our dumb animals five white runner ducks had a narrow runway leading into their house each night they filed in one by one their owner wondered if they always came in the same or der tagged them to find out after observing one particular duck was always third and for 30 conseco tive nights of observation they came up to the runway entered the house in m exactly the same order the casual observer will say in but why and what for isn t the word instinct just a name to cover up human ignorance lack of understanding 7 9 their owner said he believes after such a test that ducks can count to a limited num ber her at least how else would they select their positions in 19 he also believes after years of elpe nence with wild waterfowl that they are able to communicate with one another and intelligently plan their course of action other observers tell us that ducks appear to select their own leader and his aides whom they follow loyally the man quoted above also believes that ducks duck S understand us for he can call them and they come to him put their necks into his hand one by one and again always in the same order each awaiting his turn |