200 THE TAME DUCK 



offspring. The possession of three or four mates suits 

 him and them, better than to be confined to the com- 

 pany of a single one. He bullies other fowls, some- 

 times by pulling their feathers, but more frequently 

 by following them close, and repeatedly thrusting his 

 face in their way, with an offensive and satyr-like ex- 

 pression of countenance ; or salaciously pursuing 

 them, whether male or female, until he has accom- 

 plished .his purpose, or at least has made an attempt. 



The musk duck, though a voracious feeder, is easily 

 fattened, a prolific breeder, and consequently, may be 

 profitably reared. The male pairs readily with the 

 common tame duck, producing, by the cross, a hybrid, 

 or mongrel, which is incapable of "breeding in a line." 

 The female, however, will pair with the common drake 

 and produce a good sort. The hybrid generally has a 

 deep-green plumage, and is destitute of the red car- 

 uncled membrane on the cheeks, as well as of the 

 musky odor of the gland on the rump. 



Her eggs are scarcely distinguishable from those of 

 the common duck ; they are well flavored. The time 

 of incubation is five weeks ; but in all birds that I 

 have observed, the duration of that period varies so 

 much according to circumstances, that a mean of 

 many observations must be taken to arrive at a correct 

 standard. The time required by the hybrid eggs be- 

 tween this and the common duck, is intermediate 

 between the respective periods. 



The newly-hatched young resemble those of the 

 common tame duck ; they are covered with down, the 

 shades of which indicate the color of the future feath- 

 ers ; and they do not for some time show any appear- 

 ance of the tuberculated face. They are delicate, and 

 require some care while young, but are quite hardy 

 when full grown. Their food should be anything that 

 is nutritious, both plenty and a variety of it. 



The musk duck is excellent eating, if killed just be- 

 fore it is fully fledged ; but it is longer in becoming fit 



