234 PROFITS IK POULTRY. 



The beautiful green heads and necks of the drakes, iri- 

 descent with purple and copper hues, set off with a clean 

 white collar and claret-colored vest, give them a distin- 

 guished air which the various colors and distinct mark- 

 ings of the back and wings does not detract from. The 

 females are brown, each feather being marked with 

 black, which gives them a speckled look. 



The only variety which really rivals the Rouen as a 

 useful and economical birds is the Aylesbury. These, a 

 purely white English variety, are beautiful birds and 

 highly esteemed in the markets of Great Britain, as also 

 in the United States, where they are known. They are 

 good layers and nurses, not noisy; good feeders, and by 

 some decidedly preferred to the Rouen. The eggs are 

 white, sometimes inclining to blue, while those of the 

 Eouen duck are blue, with thick, strong shells ; of the 

 two the Rouen has the reputation of being most hardy. 

 Where ducks are raised for breeders, it is a practice 

 (founded perhaps on prejudice) to set ducks upon their 

 own eggs; but if the young are wanted for market 

 simply, the eggs are put under hens. Hens will hatch 

 a clutch of duck's some two days quicker than ducks 

 will, but it is thought that the young have not so good 

 constitutions. Young ducks raised for market often 

 get injured by being allowed to go freely to the water. 

 They grow faster and stronger if they only have enough 

 to drink at least for several weeks. 



