streams by day. While floating on the water, they frequently sleep with their 

 heads under their wings, always, however, leaving one or more of their number 

 on the watch for an enemy. They are very shy and take to the wing on the 

 first alarm. Before alighting again, they wheel several times about the place 

 selected to make sure no danger awaits them. 



These ducks are killed in large numbers for food. They feed mostly at 

 dawn and dusk, eating grain, mollusks and the roots of plants. Various methods 

 are used to get near them. Often decoys made of wood and painted to resemble 

 ducks are placed in the water to induce the flocks to alight. Hidden nearby on 

 the shore or in his boat the hunter is ready to shoot when the ducks, deceived 

 by the decoys, stop to rest. 



After incubation begins the male deserts his mate and leaves her to hatch 

 and raise the young alone while he leisurely wanders about with other drakes. 

 When the female leaves her nest to obtain food, she carefully covers her eggs 

 both to hide them and keep them warm. 



Ducks can swim almost as soon as they are out of the shell. After a day 

 or two the mother takes the brood to the nearest water and does not return again 

 with them to the nest. They spend the day with her in the water seeking food, and 

 at night she gathers them under her wnngs on the nearest land. Like chickens 

 and goslings, young ducks are covered with fine down for several weeks before 

 their feathers appear. All kinds of ducks, young and old, enjoy diving. Much 

 of their food is found under water and, therefore, they frequently have to stand 

 on their heads while they are getting it. The Mallards utter the familiar quack 

 of the tame ducks. 



Domestic ducks are raised in large numbers on farms and in poultry yards 

 both for their feathers and for table use. Like geese, they may be picked several 

 times during the warm weather as their feathers quickly grow again. Their 

 flesh is much prized for food. During the spring months they are fairly good 

 layers but their eggs do not sell well in the markets. These birds are so fond 

 of water that they should have an abundant supply of it. If ponds and streams 

 are not conveniently near, artificial pools should be provided for them. 



?>22> 



