276 BIED FRIENDS 



vided, and as the birds are hardy, they are easily 

 kept in good health. It is easy also to rear the 

 young. And it is even possible to rear them in a city 

 back yard, if one has a cement basin and shrubbery. 

 Mr. F. Manross has a pair of wood ducks which rear 

 their young each year in a small artificial pond under 

 the windows of his factory in Forestville, Connecti- 

 cut. The water is kept open during the winter by 

 a steam pipe and the birds remain here during the 

 whole year. In another part of his yard he is rearing 

 Canada geese, which were originally wild. 



As another example of what may be done in a city 

 back yard may be mentioned the case of Dr. A. F. 

 Warren, of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. For 

 several years he has kept several green-winged teals 

 in his small yard, where he has made a cement basin 

 and set out shrubbery. 



Attracting wild ducks. In localities where ducks 

 are found, much can be done to attract them with- 

 out artificial breeding. Brooks may be dammed so 

 as to make ponds and marshes. A few captive ducks 

 kept on ponds may serve to attract wild ducks, 

 which may remain and breed. Mallard ducks reared 

 in captivity make good decoys and have been used 

 successfully in attracting wild ducks into ponds, 

 even when situated in city parks. 



Food is another means of enticing ducks to remain. 

 Such grains as corn, wheat, or rice may be scattered 

 in shallow water, and ponds may be rendered still 



