VARIETIES OF DOMESTIC DUCKS. 1201 



X. Pekin Ducks. 



These valuable waterfowls were originally introduced into the United 

 States in 1873. Their weights come fully up to that ot the Aylesbury 

 duck, but they look larger, being exceedingly heavily feathered. The 

 color is i)ure white, with a creamy tinge underneath. The flesh is not con- 

 sidered fully equal to the Aylesbury, but the feathers are s'-ipcnor. The 

 beak of the bird is yellow; neck long; legs short and red. Pet Pokins are 

 hardy, and can be made to weigh, at four months old, about twelve pounds 

 the pair. The following are the qualifications and points required for ex- 

 hibition birds by the American Association: 



Head, long, finely formed; color of plumage, white; eyes, deep leaden- 

 blue; bill of medium size, deep yellow and perfectly free from marks of 

 any other color; neck rather long and large in the drake — in the duck, of 

 medium lenghth; color of plumage white, or creamy white breast and body. 

 Breast, round and full; body, very long and deep, and in adult birds, ap- 

 proaching the outlines of a parallelogram; color of plumage, white or 

 creamy white throughout; wings, short and carried compactly and smoothly 

 against the sides; color of plumage, white; tail, rather erect, the curled 

 feathers of the drake being hard and stiflf; plumage, white; legs, thighs 

 short and large; color of plumage, white; shanks, short and strong, and of 

 a reddish orange color; plumage downy, and of a faint creamy white. 



XI. Other and Bare Ducks. 



Among the ducks of elegant plumage lately domesticated is the Wood 

 duck, known all over the West, and now disseminated as the Carolina 

 duck. It is one of the most beautiful of any of the varieties in the bril- 

 liancy of its plumage and varied elegance of the markings, one of the most 

 striking in the graceful plume of feathers falling back from the head 

 They are so easily domesticated that they will allow themselves to be 

 handled, if always treated with gentleness. 



The Mandarin duck, a Chinese variety, is also a bird of splendid plum- 

 age, but rare. 



Of the crested ducks, the White and the Black Poland are best known. 

 Both are crested, the crest varying in size, but always bearing a ball of 

 feathers, quite round. 



Another very rare duck, the Crested duck, said to be native to America, 

 is described by Mr. Latham as being " the size of the wild duck," (an 

 indefinite description), "but much larger, for it mensures twenty-five 

 inches in length ; a tuft adorns its head ; a straw yellow, mixed with 

 rusty-colored spots is spread over the throat and front of the neck ; the 

 wings, speculum blue beneath, edged with white ; the bill, wings and U*^\ 

 are black ; irides red, and all the rest of the body ashy-gray. 



