I50 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



only once a year, in late summer, but new feathers will grow 

 out within three to four weeks after the old quill stumps are 

 pulled out by the roots. The time required for the complete 

 growth of a new wing quill is usually from twenty-one to 

 twenty-four days. 



The time selected for the operation is, thus, about three to 

 four weeks before the normal breeding time for ducks, in 

 England about the middle of March. The ducks are then 

 caught up, the stumps of the old clipped quills are pulled out 

 with pincers, and the birds returned to the enclosures. 

 When the wing has grown out they are allowed to fly over 

 the fence. By this time the wild migrants have gone north, 

 the breeding impulse is on them, and they usually remain 

 and nest in the vicinity. 



Sometimes, however, they depart to neighbouring estates, 

 so the following modification has been devised : The female 

 only has the stumps of her quills pulled out, and both sexes 

 are put into a large marshy enclosure. Flight invigorates 

 the female, usually the more backward to breed in captivity, 

 so that she is ready to lay. Already she is mated to a male 

 in the pen. He cannot fly, but she is unwilling to leave him, 

 and mates with him and nests nearby, sometimes even in 

 the enclosure. The ducks usually rear their own young wild, 

 and no attempt is made to restrain them, or to prevent the 

 males from leaving when their flight feathers are renewed. 

 For the next season stock is trapped wholesale, which is less 

 trouble. 



According to Messrs. Walcott and Mac Vicar, the plan has 

 been worked successfully in England with the pochard, 

 tufted duck, gadwall, widgeon, pintail, shoveller, teal, and 

 perhaps others. That it is based upon traits natural to wild- 

 fowl is shown that in the wild state uninjured ducks are 

 sometimes known to refuse to desert their wounded mates, 



