DUCKS. 



641 



feathers, and even his wing fans and crest, and becomes very much like the female; in 

 August he again begins to resume his fine clothing, and by September is again in full 

 plumage.&quot; 



Carolina Ducks* also known as &quot;Wood Ducks,&quot; or Summer Ducks,&quot; are natives of 

 South America. They are beautiful specimens of water fowl, having a very gorgeous 

 plumage, and a graceful plume of feathers falling back from the head. The drake has a red 

 bill margined nearly to the tip with black, with a spot of black between the nostrils and a 

 kind of hooked point at the end; the head and pendant crest are a rich, glossy bronze-green 

 shading off into violet, and marked with a line of pure white running from the bone of the 

 bill over the eye and another band of white from behind the eye. The upper portion of the 

 neck is of a violet hue, banded with white in front, curving in the form of a crescent behind 

 the eyes; breast dark brown tinged with violet, marked with small white spots; the back a 

 bronze tinged with green; wings blue and green with some markings of white; tail black 

 tinged with green; tail coverts deep black tinged with yellow; legs yellowish red. .The head 



THE MALLARD DRAKE. 



of the duck has a small crest, and although similar in color of plumage to the drake in some 

 respects, it is more subdued. About June the plumage of the drake changes to nearly the 

 same color of the duck, but in September he is in his gorgeous plumage again. These birds, 

 like all wild fowl, increase in size as they are domesticated. Their beauty of plumage renders 

 them great favorites, while they will become very tame when gently treated, and seem to like 

 to be handled and petted. 



Mallard Ducks. Although these fowls are considerably smaller than the Rouen, they 

 resemble the latter so closely in color of plumage and other characteristics, that a separate 

 description is unnecessary in this connection. 



General Management Of Ducks. There is much pleasure, as well as profit, in 

 raising ducks when properly managed. They should be given sufficient range to forage and 

 hunt for a part of their living, and prove excellent help in destroying insects. A brood of young 



