RAISING DUCKS. 227 



were landed in New York on the 13th of March, 1873. 

 Leaving three ducks and two drakes, consigned to 

 parties in New York, to be sent to Mr. McGrath's 

 family (who never received them, as they were killed and 

 eaten in the city), Mr. P. took the three remaining 

 ducks and drake to his home at Wequetequoc, in Ston- 

 ington, Conn. They soon recovered from the effects of 

 their long voyage, and commenced laying the latter part 

 of March, and continued to lay until the last of July. 

 They are very prolific, the three ducks laying about 325 

 eggs. 



The ducks are white, with a yellowish tinge to the 

 under part of the feathers ; their wings are a little less 

 than medium length, as compared with other varieties ; 

 A hey make as little effort to fly as the large Asiatic fowls, 

 and they can be as easily kept in enclosures. Their 

 beaks are yellow ; necks long ; legs short and red. When 

 the eggs are hatched under hens, the ducklings come 

 out of the shell much stronger if the eggs are dampened 

 every day (after the first fifteen days) in water a little 

 above blood heat and replaced under the hen. 



The ducks are very large, and uniform in size, weigh- 

 ing at four months old about twelve pounds to the pair. 

 They appear to be very hardy, not minding severe 

 weather. Water to drink seems to be all they require 

 to bring them to perfect development. 



I was more successful in rearing them with only a 

 dish filled to the depth of one inch with water, than 

 were those who had the advantages of a pond and run- 

 ning stream. 



AY^ESBURY DUCKS. 



White occurring without intermixture of other coloi 

 in the hair or feathers of animals and fowls is evidence 

 of change effected by domestication. This color, or lack 



