WATER FOWL. 

 CliAPTERi X. 



VARIETIES OP DOMESTIC DUCKS. 



I. DUCKS ON THE FARM. II. VARIETIES BEST ADAPTED TO THE FARM. Til. 



AYLESBURY DUCKS. IV. ROUEN DUCKS. V. THE COMMON WHITE DUCK. 



VI. CAYU(}A BLACK DUCKS. VII. MUSCOVY DUCKS. VIII. BLACK EAST 



I'NDIA DUCKS. IX. CALL DUCKS. X. PEKIN DUCKS. OTHER AND RARE 



DUCKS. 



I. Ducks on the Farm. 



Year by year both ducks and geese are becoming more popular as an 

 addition to the reguhir farm stock. Ducks, especially, are yearly receiv- 

 ing more and more attention. First, from the fact that the ducklings are 

 the most active and indefatigable insect hunters known ; second, they 

 are more easily reared than any other farm birds; third, their feathers 

 are valuable, and fourth, the eggs and young ducks find ready sale in 

 the markets. In the fields of the market gardener they are especially 

 vakiable, and all those who know their value in this respect Avould raise 

 , if only for their aid in summer as insect destroyers. 



II. Varieties Best Adapted to the Farm. 



When the flesh and feathers are the principal objects, the white breed 

 are best ; but when flesh is the prime object, and handsome, ornamenta 

 qualities are desired, the Black Cayuga and the Rouen duck will give sat- 

 isfaction. We think the young of the Rouen duck the best insect de- 

 stroyers of any of the large breeds, and the young of the common gray 

 duck, the best of the smaller breeds. The Muscovy, one of the largest 

 of ducks, has really little to recommend it, except size, and even here, 

 the Cayuga, the Rouen and the Aylesbury' will nearly compete with 

 them, and are far superior in quality of flesh. One reason, probably, 

 why ducks have received so little attention in the West, is that wild 

 ducks have been so numerous in tne spring and fall that a mess might at 

 any time be had for the shooting. They are, however, becoming scarcer 



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