164 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



a pan of shallow water for a short time on a warm, bright 

 morning. 



Young Wood Ducks. The success of Wallace Evans in 

 his method of raising young wood ducks is instructive. 

 These ducklings have sharp claws and are great climbers. 

 When kept on dry land, at first they appear wild and restless, 

 paying little heed to the hens, and are continually trying to 

 climb out of the pen. They seem to worry themselves to 

 death, and it is common to lose half or even all of 

 them. With the mother duck, however, even in a small 

 puddle, they seem perfectly content, and seldom try to 

 escape. They are constantly dabbling, sifting mud and 

 water through their bills, and usually nearly all of them 

 thrive. 



Mr. Evans takes the hen and brood to a rearing-coop 

 placed upon dry land, but near a bit of shallow water, which 

 is included in their enclosure. Some of these pens were 

 along a marshy lake, others along a shallow ditch or canal 

 which was divided off into sections, each yard having in it a 

 strip of the ditch. They are allowed to take a brief bath 

 soon after they are placed in the rearing-coop. This must 

 be only when there is warm sunshine, and in warm marsh 

 water, also in time to dry off before night. If the first day 

 is cold, they should bathe only as conditions are favourable. 

 His theory is that for a time after the ducklings are hatched 

 their plumage has in it considerable of the natural oil, which 

 soon dries out if they stay out of the water. The first bath 

 must be a brief one, after which they are shut in with the hen. 

 The little ducks should not get bedraggled, and should avoid 

 getting their backs wet at first. If a shower comes up they 

 are shut in the coop. It is bad for them at first to run 

 through long wet grass or weeds, as this forces the water 

 into their plumage. Hence vegetation in the enclosure is 



