60 



THE AMERICAX MUSEUM JOURXAL 



wild native waterfowl, is a charming 

 species to breed. Although not prolific 

 like the mallard, it will breed every 

 year, and produce two layings if prop- 

 erly managed. As with other wild 

 ducks in captivity, to hold them in open 

 enclosures for breeding the stock should 

 be pinioned. This species in the wild 

 state nests in hollow trees, but in cap- 

 tivity uses nesting-boxes on posts, with 

 a cleated board walk leading up to the 

 five-inch hole in the side. Small nail 

 kegs answer very Avell, or any ordinary 

 box. The posts are set out in shallow 

 water preferably, or else on shore amid 

 shelter of shrubbery. When the laying 

 is complete, the eggs should be taken 

 at once and hatched under a common 

 hen, one of fairly light weight being 

 best. The duck will probably lay an- 

 other set, which she may be allowed to 

 hatch and raise, provided the pond is 

 free from large fish, frogs, turtles, or 

 snakes, and there are not many other 

 ducks. Wood ducks are in great de- 

 mand as breeding stock, and bring from 

 $10 to $20 a pair, so that their propa- 

 gation is quite profitable. Until recent 

 years most of the stock used in this 

 countrv was raised in Holland. 



Wild ducks' eggs also hatch quite 

 well in incubators, if given all possible 

 moisture, and the young can be raised 

 in brooders, although it is easier and 

 less exacting work to employ hens. In 

 tlie latter case the hens are kept shut 

 in the coop, and the young allowed to 

 run in and out through slats, confining 

 them to a wired yard on grass, and 

 moving them to a new spot now and 

 then. The coop should be kept very 

 clean, and fresh sand frequently spread 

 over the bottom. 



Of course there are many other kinds 

 of wild ducks, but the work of breeding 

 them in this country, especially our na- 

 tive kinds, is still in its infancy. The 

 main hindrance is that wild captured 

 ducks are loath to produce eggs at 

 first. If kept in a suitable pond where 

 they are not disturbed, and where there 

 is plenty of cover, although they do not 

 lay the first year, they probably will 

 begin the second season, and do still 

 l)etter the third. The young should be 

 reared by hens, and will be tamer and 

 more ready to breed than their parents. 

 This is the way to build up breeding 

 stocks and solve this problem with vari- 

 ous native species hitherto largely un- 



A band of wild Canada geese raised by W. R. Truman, of Marshall, Illinois, demonstrates the 

 great possibilities in domestication of wild fowl. Geese and swans are hardy birds, requiring little 

 care, yet not many instances are known of their being bred in captivity 



