638 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



large quantities of Colorado beetle or potato bugs. The period of incubation is five weeks. 

 This bird has been domesticated throughout England and Germany for many years, as well 

 as other portions of Europe, it being also quite common in this country. In a wild state the 

 nests are sometimes built in the branches and sometimes the hollow of trees near the water. 

 About the season of pairing, the drakes are said to fight desperately, and this quarrelsome 

 disposition seems to be inherited by the domestic bird to a considerable extent. 



Mandarin Ducks. These are a Chinese variety, sometimes called the Chinese 

 Teal They are quite rare in this country, although more commonly seen in England. They 

 are small in size, but have an exceedingly gorgeous plumage. Mr. &quot;Wright describes them as 

 follows: &quot;The shape is light and neat looking, but the plumage of the drake almost defies 

 description, nothing in the poultry world being so bright and gorgeous. The head has a long 

 crest pointing backward, and which can be raised or lowered at will; the color of this crest 

 being green and purple on the top, shading into chestnut and green in the long feathers which 



CAROLINA OB WOOD DUCKS. 



extend backwards. A broad stripe of rich cream-color extends from the front of the sides 

 of the head across the eye to the back of the neck. 



The neck is furnished with a collar or ruff of rich brownish-red feathers, somewhat 

 resembling hackles, and the front of the neck and sides of the breast are a rich claret or 

 purple. Across the shoulders are two beautiful stripes of clear white, each shaded with 

 black, behind which the sides of the bird are of a greenish or ashy yellow, gray, beautifully 

 and most delicately penciled in very fine lines with dark gray or black. The wings are 

 furnished each with a peculiar shield or fan, standing nearly erect, and which are of a bright 

 chestnut color, beautifully edged with green or blue. The feathers of the back are a brilliant 

 light brown, and the under parts white or nearly so. The quills or secondaries are brownish 

 gray, edged on the lower web with white. The bill is crimson, the legs a lightish pink, and 

 the eyes a bright black. The garb of the duck is much plainer, being a mottling all over of 

 greenish brown, with grayish under parts. About May the drake loses his conspicuous 



