A BROOD OF DUCKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 August 1928, Page 9

A BROOD OF DUCKS

AT BUCK I,NG'HiAtM FALuVOE.

TBAFFJO HELD UP.

Half the charm of London is the unexpected and quaint incidents that the lucky wanderer is apt to chance upon in her streets. An excellent instance of this was afforded one day at the end of June 'by a duck and her brood of young, which delighted a large crowd outside Buckingham Palace and held up traffic while they were given safe conduct across busy intersecting streets. ■

While a crowd was awaiting arrivals for the investiture at Buckingham Palace, a polio© sergeant walked from the palace grounds into the roadway and unexpectedly held up the traffic. Thinking that someone of unusual celebrity was about to appear, the crowd ran to the scene. Craning forward to catch sight of the “celebrity,all were amazed when round the corner, sedate and unhurrying, appeared a duck with eight tiny duck lings bobbing about her. With motor cans and other vehicles brought t'O a halt the road was safe for their crossing. Under the escort of the police-sergeant and a constable the duck and her brood first crossed to the Victoria. Memorial, where there was a slight .rest, and then to the flower beds outside St. James Park. The ducklings passed through the gates and the duck flew over the railings to them, afterwards leading them to the lake. The crowd, which had followed their progress with great delight, broke into cheers as safety was reached. The brood, like many others, had been hatched in the gardens qf Buckingham Palace, where there is a pond. The ducks, however, fear the rooks Which abound in the trees'and attack their young, and prefer to lead their families to the safety of St. .Tamos’ Park. ‘ «