YOUNG DUCKS ON REARING FIELD 63 



Mr. De Visme Shaw says the young of wild ducks are 

 as subject, or almost as subject, to cramp as are those 

 of their domestic relatives, and the same care in keeping 

 them from water must be exercised. Whatever kind of 

 vessel be used, it should give the birds easy access to 

 the water for drinking purposes, while at the same time 

 preventing them from wetting their down. He recom- 

 mends a framework made in the shape of a gardener's 

 hand-light and covered with galvanized netting — the 

 cover being placed over a shallow earthenware baking 

 dish — a most satisfactory contrivance.* 



The brood of ducks in charge of a duck should, of 

 course, be left to her management. She will take them 

 out on the pond for a short swim, and it is a beautiful 

 sight to see the mother with her troop of cute little duck- 

 lings swimming behind her, or often in advance, the last 

 named no bigger than tennis balls. The proud matron 

 will make the excursions short at first and will soon have 

 the young birds out on a sunny bank and often under her 

 warm body. 



Ducks are fond of seeking the shade, especially in the 

 afternoon, when they usually take a doze. About 4 

 o'clock they begin to move about, afoot or awing. I 

 often observed my ducks dozing in the shade of the 

 house or trees, but at 4 o'clock promptly they marched 

 forth, usually to raid my garden. As they passed my 

 studio window I often called to the children to ascertain 

 the time, asking them if it was 4 o'clock. The ducks 

 were very accurate. 



The coops should be moved a few feet daily to give 

 the young ducks fresh ground for their feeding places. 



♦"Wild Fowl." By De Visme Shaw. 



