ANECDOTE OP A MUSCOVY DUCK. 245 



become curdy like that of a new-laid hen's egg, but 

 transparent and glassy, while the yolk is much darker 

 in colour. Ducks' eggs are chiefly used in pastry, being 

 less delicate than those of the common fowl. 



It has already been noticed that, in hatching ducks' 

 eggs, it is better to put them under a hen, because 

 ducks are not good mothers. But if a duck be per- 

 mitted to sit, it is well to let her have eggs that match 

 in colour, for in some few cases she has been known to 

 turn out with her bill those eggs which are not of the 

 colour of her own. A Muscovy duck was once sitting 

 on about nineteen common ducks' eggs. When half 

 the period of incubation had elapsed, the duck was one 

 day observed, as she returned to her nest after feeding, 

 to pass her bill over the whole of the eggs, and then to 

 select one, and take it up in her mouth. This egg she 

 conveyed to the distance of three or four yards from 

 the nest, where she struck it a hard blow with her bill, 

 breaking the shell and disclosing the contents, which 

 were addled. This fact has been related to the writer 

 by a distinguished naturalist who was himself the 

 witness of it. % 



During incubation, which lasts thirty-one days, the 

 duck requires a secret and safe place, but not much 

 attendance, as she takes more care of herself than the 

 hen, and is sure to seek the refreshment of food and 

 water at proper intervals. The chief fear is, that she 

 will do this too often, and let her eggs cool. When the 

 eggs are hatched, a coop should be placed either on the 

 short grass, or under cover, according to the weather, 

 and a wide and flat dish of water placed near it for the 

 ducklings. Their first food should be either crumbled 

 bread, sopped in cider, or some soft mixture, such as 

 barley-meal. Whenever the mother finds herself at 

 liberty, she will immediately take her young to the 

 water, if there be any near, and they launch into it 

 without hesitation. When ducklings are brought up 

 by a common hen, or a turkey-hen, as is sometimes the 



