THE TAME DUCK, 197 



tied behind them, brought down by the natives as a 

 peace-offering and a festival dish. 



One of the most valid arguments in favor of the de- 

 rivation of the tame duck from the mallard, is to be 

 found in the readiness with which the former returns 

 to a wild or a half-wild state. In Norfolk, England, 

 there is a breed called "marsh ducks," more from 

 their habits and place of birth than from any peculiar- 

 ity of race. They are mostly of plumage generally 

 similar to the mallard, though an ornithologist would 

 immediately distinguish them ; their size and the 

 firmness of their bones are intermediate between the 

 wild bird and the common farmyard duck. They are 

 turned out on the marshes to forage for themselves ; 

 indeed, it would be next to impossible to keep them 

 at home ; and of the number which are annually lost 

 to their masters, it would seem likely that quite as 

 many assume an independent condition, as are killed 

 by birds, beasts, or men, of prey ; but still they do 

 not appear to be ever found actually and entirely wild. 



CHOICE OF VARIETIES. 



THE variety, at present, most in request, is the 

 " dark-colored Rouen, or Rhone duck," originally from 

 France, but common both in England and in this 

 country. The " English," or " Aylesbury" white va- 

 riety, though handsome and strong, is inferior in fla- 

 vor, the flesh being too light-colored and " chickeny," 

 as it is termed. Great numbers of these fowls, how- 

 ever, are fattened in Buckinghamshire, England, for 

 the London markets, where, in consequence of their 

 large size, they command high prices. There is 

 also the " crested," or " topknot duck," a beautiful 

 ornamental tame variety, which breeds early, lays 

 freely, and hatches well. They occur pure white, 

 black, or mixed with black and white. Then there is 

 the " musk" or " Muscovy" duck, which, from its 

 large size, and peculiar habits, demands a more ex- 

 tended notice. 



