278 FARMING FOR LADIES, [chap. xiii. 



mode of feeding, they will in this manner 

 eagerly seek for the food, which the forma- 

 tion of their bill allows them to retain, while 

 the water passes through its edges ; and also 

 enables them to sift the mud from any prey 

 which they may find when groping in the 

 pools and ditches. Or else, a small tub of 

 oats may be given to them to use at discre- 

 tion ; but if you see no dislike to the use or 

 trouble of also giving them some raw minced 

 meat, it will be found to improve both the 

 weight and flavour of the flesh. Indeed, we 

 have no hesitation in saying, that the guts 

 of any animals, either raw or boiled, and 

 minced — though better raw — are even supe- 

 rior for the purpose, to corn alone, and should 

 ever be used in the process of fatting, as 

 being more suited to their natural taste and 

 habits. Mr. Patterson tried it upon several 

 ducks, fed upon what butchers call " middle 

 guts," — which are the small guts of sheep, 

 — along with oats and barley, of which they 

 seldom ate when gut was offered to them. 



On making experiments on feeding, that 

 gentleman found that fourteen ducks ate half 

 a peck of oats a day ; which, supposing them 



