164 OUIl DOMESTIC FOWLS. 



scarlet skin, more or less clouded with violet, 

 surrounds the eye, continued from scarlet 

 caruncles on the base of the beak ; the top of 

 the head is crested ; the feathers of the body- 

 are larger, more lax, softer, and less closely 

 compacted together than in the common duck, 

 and seem to indicate less aquatic habits. The 

 male far surpasses the female in size ; there 

 are no curled feathers in his tail. 



In habits, the musk-duck presents nothing 

 very different from the other species, excepting 

 that the male is fierce and quarrelsome ; when 

 enraged, its eyes and demeanour betray its 

 violent emotions, it depresses its head, and 

 titters hoarse notes in a deep tone. The flesh 

 of this species, and also of the mixed breed, is 

 said to be very good, but we have never 

 tasted it. 



With respect to the wild origin of the musk 

 duck little seems to be definitely known, nor is 

 it ascertained at what precise period it came 

 into Europe. Most accounts refer to South 

 America as its native country. Eay, in whose 

 time it was known as a domestic bird in Eng- 

 land, terms it Anas sylvestris Braziliensis, the 

 wood duck of Brazil. Linnteus, in his Fauna 

 Suecica, says, " It is reared on the farms of 



