Like a duck to water

To take to something like a duck to water means to take to something easily and readily as if it was second nature. Ducks like all water birds are born on land but take to water naturally without having to learn to swim. One would be inclined to think that the expression, ‘like a duck to water’ must have been around for as long as humankind has observed ducks taking to water yet citations before the late 19th century have yet to be found.