126 OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



paddles in swimming. They are not suited to perching. There 

 is a wild tree duck, and it is said that the domestic Muscovy Duck 

 sometimes alights in trees or on objects above the ground, but 

 the familiar kinds of ducks rest only on the surface of the land 

 or on the water. 



Although the males average a little larger, the male and female 

 of the same stock are usually nearer the same size than in gal- 

 linaceous birds. The only marks by which sex can be distin- 

 guished in all ducks are the voice and the presence or absence 

 of the small curled feathers on the tail which characterize the 

 males. In party-colored varieties the color markings of the male 

 and female are sometimes different. The " quack " of the duck 

 is the note of the female ; the male makes a very subdued 

 similar sound, comparing with it as a hoarse whisper compares 

 with the natural tones of the human voice. 



The duck derives its English name from its habit of ducking 

 its head into the water in search of food at the bottom of the 

 shallow waters, which it prefers. The term " duck " is applied 

 to males and females collectively, and also to the female as dis- 

 tinguished from the male. The male is called a drake. The 

 name " drake " is supposed to be derived from an Old German 

 word meaning " the chief duck." Any one who is familiar with 

 the habits of ducks will see at once the appropriateness of the 

 term. Ducks often march in single file, and when they do so, 

 all the drakes in a group go first, the ducks following them, 

 usually with a little space between. So if there is only one male, 

 he marches a little ahead of his flock, like a commander. Young 

 ducks are called ducklings, the name being applied to both sexes. 

 In our language there are no special terms applying to a young 

 duck and a young drake as distinguished from adult birds. 



Origin. Useful domestic ducks are of two species. All the 

 breeds of this class, except the Muscovy Duck, are derived from 

 the wild Mallard Duck, specimens of which are still frequently 

 captured and domesticated. The Mallard takes very readily to 



