THE OOLOGIST 



27 



purely orniniental purposes. Our 

 theory of it is that it' we can domesti- 

 cate the various North American wild 

 fowl, they will last forever; they will 

 become a source of national wealth 

 and of added meat supply; they will 

 be ornamental and will be preserved 

 from utter extinction. 



Thinking perhaps some of our ex- 

 periments along this line would be of 

 interest, we have given over this num- 

 ber of THE OOLOGIST largely to the 

 proposition of North American Wild 

 Fowl in confinement. 



In order to keep such birds in con- 

 finement, it is proper and in some 

 places necessary to get the consent of 

 the local game warden. Then pre- 

 pare a place where there is plenty of 

 shade and plenty of room and some 

 water. The small quantity of water 

 with which a duck or goose can get 

 along is surprising, and nearly all 

 species, with proper surroundings will 

 nest in confinement. 



In the winter it is necessary, when- 

 ever the mercury goes below zero, to 

 keep your birds dry; give them nothing 

 but drinking water, and do not allow 

 them to get wet or even damp. Fur- 

 nish them with a little artificial heat: 

 in fact we turn on heat whenever the 

 mercury reaches ten degrees above 

 zero; though this is not necessary. 

 Supply the pond ducks, mallartls, teal, 

 gadwalls, widgeons and the like with 

 a wide grassy slough if possible and 

 shallow water in summer, the deep 

 water ducks, canvas back, red heads, 

 blue bills and allied races with a pool 

 or tank sunk into the ground at least 

 two feet deep. Give the wood ducks if 

 a small running stream with one or 

 two peels in it a couple of feet deep. 



In summer the geese must all have 

 water at least two feet deep. One of 

 the main reasons why it has been 

 nearly impossible heretofore to raise 

 wild fowl in confinement is tliat those 



who have undeitaken it did not un- 

 derstand that cur North American 

 wiM di;cks ard geese with but few ex- 

 ceptiors will net breed unless it is in 

 the water. They must have water 

 deep enough for this purpose. It is 

 commcn practise to take the eggs from 

 the old birds and set them under a 

 chicken hen. This is all well enough 

 if you keep your birds where they are 

 not secluded; but if they have a place 

 which is secluded, leave them alone; 

 they will hatch their own eggs. But 

 do net forget the more seclusion they 

 have, the longer it will take you to 

 get rid of their wild nature; this can 

 only be gotten rid of by continuous 

 contact with man, and by kindness and 

 selective breeding; selecting" out of 

 each brood annually the quietest and 

 tamest birds, and i)utting them by 

 themselves 



We are presenting herewith a num- 

 ber of half tones showing the general 

 manner of keeping wild fowl in con- 

 finement, and the pleasure to be de- 

 rived therefrom. Certainly they are 

 among the mcst decorative birds that 

 can be found upon a country place. 



As to feed, if you have a natural 

 marsh which is large enough, they re- 

 quiie but little feed in the summer; 

 otherwise they must have ground feed, 

 mixed grains, some charcoal, and some 

 dried beef scraps er dried blocd in 

 abrut the same proportion, that the 

 same is fed to pheasants, besides plen- 

 ty of green feed clover, grass, cab- 

 bage, etc. 



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