AYLE8BURY DUCKS. 231 



place almost free of those slugs which are the gardener's 

 great plague, aiid doing but little damage, except to straw- 

 berries, for which they have a peculiar partiality, and which 

 must be carefully protected from their ravages. Other fruit 

 is too high to be in much danger. 



In such circumstances there can be no doubt whatever that 

 ducks are profitable poultry ; and where numerous fowls are 

 kept, a few should also be added, as they will keep themselves, 

 very nearly, on what the hens refuse ; but where every atom 

 of the food they consume has to be paid for in cash, our own 

 opinion is that ducks do not pay to rear, except for town 

 markets, their appetites are so everlasting and voracious. This 

 point, however, we must leave to the experience of the reader, 

 and proceed to consider the two principal varieties known as 

 the Aylesbury and Rouen. The following descriptions and 

 accompanying remarks are from the pen of Mr. John K. 

 Fowler, of Aylesbury, one of the largest poultry-breeders, and 

 certainly the most successful exhibitor of ducks, in England : 



" My idea of a perfect Aylesbury drake and duck is, that 

 in plumage they should be of the purest snow-white all over. 

 The head should be full, and the bill well set on to the skull, 

 so that the beak should seem to be almost in a line from the 

 top of the head to the tip. The bill should be long, and when 

 viewed in front appear much like a woodcock's : it should be 

 in prize birds of a delicate flesh colour, without spot or 

 blemish, and with a slight fleshy excrescence where the 

 feathers commence. If it occasionally has a very slight creamy 

 tint, it would not disqualify, but any approach to dark buff or 

 yellow is fatal to the pen. Eye full, bright, and quite black. 



" The legs should be strong, with the claws well webbed, 

 and in colour of a rich dark yellow or orange. Body rather 

 long, but broad across the shoulders, and the neck rather long 

 and slender. The drake should have one, and sometimes has 

 two, sharp curls in his tail 



