274 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



Belly, up to the tail, light brown, with every feather 

 delicately pencilled to the tip. Legs orange, often, how- 

 ever, with a brown tinge. Both sexes should be well 

 " keeled," as described for Aylesburys. The Rouen is not 

 so good a layer as the latter, but quite as heavy and good 

 for the table. 



PEKIN DUCKS. This breed was imported from Pekin into 

 both England and the United States, in the year 1873, and 

 has most marked characteristics. One of these is the strong 

 yellow blood. Both legs and bill are deep orange colour, 

 and the plumage a kind of ferret-white, with a strong 

 canary tinge, which becomes stronger still in the under- 

 feather. The legs are set on rather far behind, which gives 

 an upright or Penguin carriage. Another feature is the 

 boat-shape of the long and deep keel, which, with a fulness 

 of rump and peculiar turn-up at the tail, irresistibly suggests 

 the shape of an Indian birch canoe. Yet another peculiarity 

 lies in the fact that the duck is, as a rule (though there are 

 exceptions), a non-sitter and prolific layer. At one time 

 birds were shown with white plumage and pale bills, but 

 which, no doubt, were crossed with Aylesbury ; and the 

 canary tinge is now fully recognised. 



This is a most valuable duck, but does not seem to be 

 bred to nearly as high a standard in England as in 

 America, where it is the breed universally used now by the 

 duck-farmers. In England a large-looking bird often weighs 

 no more than 8 lb., though large specimens are exhibited 

 of greater weight, and some breeders average the eggs at 

 90 per annum, others less. On the American duck-farms 

 birds of ii lb. and more are quite common, in adults, 

 and the average in eggs from many hundred ducks is 

 reported from three of the largest farms as 135, 140, and 

 145 per duck. But these are the results of breeding and 



