604 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



easily raised, and mature early. The standard weight of the adult 

 drake is 8 pounds; adult duck, 7 pounds; young drake, 7 pounds, 

 and young duck, 6 pounds. 



White Aylesbury Ducks. They are second] to the popular 

 Pekins for market purposes, and are bred in large numbers in Eng- 

 land and Europe. In this country they are not so extensively bred 

 as the Pekin, neither have they been found so good as the latter. 

 These ducks receive their name from Aylesbury, the county town of 

 Buckinghamshire, England. They are of large size, pairs occasion- 

 ally reaching the weight of 18 pounds, the male birds weighing 9 or 

 10 pounds and the females 7 or 8. Birds weighing 15 to 16 pounds 

 to the pair are the average. 



Description. The head of the Aylesbury duck is long and 

 neatly formed ; the eyes of a deep leaden color ; the long wide bill is 

 of a pale flesh color or pinkish hue, and should be free from dark 

 spots, bill of drake marred with black being a disqualification ; the 

 neck is slender, long, and gracefully curved; the body is long and 

 deep ; the breast is full and round. 



For farm purposes the Aylesbury is to be recommended, second 

 only to the Pekin ; it possesses the many good qualities of the Pekin, 

 and can be bred with almost the same success. The advantages 

 claimed for the Aylesbury are the ease with which it is acclimated, 

 thriving in every country and climate ; its early maturity ; its great 

 hardiness; its large size; its great prolificacy, and the real beauty 

 which it possesses. Raisers recommend for raising exhibition birds 

 one drake to two ducks, or two drakes to five ducks, all being allowed 

 to run together. Duck raisers who raise large numbers for market 

 breed them as they do Pekins, using from four to eight females to 

 one male, according to the season of the year. Fresh blood is 

 introduced every year to keep up the size, and breeding stock is sel- 

 dom kept longer than the second or third year. The standard weight 

 of the adult drake is 9 pounds ; adult duck, 8 pounds ; young drake, 

 8 pounds ; and young duck, 7 pounds. 



Colored Rouen Ducks. This duck is deservedly popular 

 throughout this country, and is considered one of the most profitable 

 varieties to keep. These ducks are said to have come originally from 

 the city of Rouen, in Normandy. It is known that large quantities 

 of poultry are raised in Normandy, and while there may be no posi- 

 tive proof that these ducks came originally from that city, large num- 

 bers of birds closely resembling them are to be found in the market 

 places there. Some writers contend that the name should be Roan, 

 owing to their color, but the color itself does not support this conten- 

 tion. The correct name is Rouen, and Roan is undoubtedly a 

 corruption. 



Description. The Rouen duck is a fine market bird, but does 

 not mature as early as does the Pekin or the Aylesbury. The flesh 

 is considered very delicate, and the breed is acknowledged to be ex* 

 celient for table purposes, being easily fattened. The Rouen will 

 be found a profitable bird to raise on the farm, being hardy, prolific. 



