1911 J Recent Literature. obi 



Park, 111.; Yardley, Pa.; Clifton Forge, L. I.; Hudson Highlands, N. Y.; 

 and Chincoteague Island, Va. Stock can be secured from these and from 

 English preserves. 



Rather scanty information on the natural foods of wild ducks was avail- 

 able to the author, but the addressses of the principal dealers in the better 

 known plants are given, as is also an interesting letter from Dr. R. V. 

 Pierce, who has experimented extensively with the propagation of aquatic 

 plants which are eaten by ducks. Many of the scientific names in this 

 chapter are misspelled, and in discussing publications of the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry, on wild rice, the unguarded statement is made that "It 

 seemed hardly worth while for one department of the Government to issue 

 expensive bulletins telling the people how to produce foods for breeders 

 when another department was actively interested in game laws prohibiting 

 such industry." This statement is negatived by a later one (p. 160) con- 

 cerning "the profitable increase of game by breeders" which is as follows: 

 "The Bureau of Biological Survey of the U. S. Department of Agriculture 

 favors such legislation, and it seems probable that the laws soon will be 

 amended so as no longer to prevent the profitable increase of a desirable 

 food." 



The most interesting part of the book of course is that dealing with the 

 artificial rearing of wild ducks. The provision of suitable nesting places 

 and the fencing out of ground vermin are mentioned among the essentials. 

 Eggs are taken from the ducks until one or two clutches are obtained from 

 each. These are placed under hens which are cared for in a hatching house 

 lined with row upon row of nest boxes. About 20 to 33 eggs are laid by 

 each duck in a season, although 119 have been laid by two ducks which 

 were given an abundance of animal food. The ducks after furnishing 

 15 to 20 eggs are themselves allowed to lay and incubate a clutch. It 

 has been found that duck eggs require a considerable supply of moisture; 

 they are sprinkled daily and the nest is saturated just before hatching time. 

 For this reason artificial incubators have not found favor, but the author 

 worked out a method by which at least one satisfactory hatch was accom- 

 plished. 



The young ducks thrive best when fed upon a meal containing a pro- 

 portion of animal food. They are fed this meal until they are two to three 

 weeks old, an increasing quantity of cracked corn bring added as they 

 grow older. The young are not taken to water until seven to eight weeks 

 old, a thorough wetting earlier usually having very bad effects. 



After turning out where natural food is abundant only one meal a day 

 is required. This should be given at an established feeding place on the 

 water side, which is fenced against vermin. The ducks will then regard 

 this spot as a refuge, and make it headquarters for their excursions to the 

 surrounding country. They quickly learn to come to meals on signal, 

 and although becoming tame as barnyard fowl on their familiar feeding 

 grounds they are timid and wary when visiting other places. 



This behavior is analagous to that of wild birds in certain of our public 



