306 



THE GEXESEE FARMER. 



SOMETHING ABOUT THE MUSK DUCK. 



The Musk duck, more cuuiuuiuly kimwii ;is 21'is- 

 covy (luck, is a native of South America, wliero it 

 is found in a wild state. Tlie ajipellation iliiscdvy, 

 by which term Euro|>ean Russia is often desii^niated, 

 is clearly erroneously applied to tiiis bird, who^e 

 plumage is thought to emit tlie odor of musk — 

 whence the trivial name. Tlie Frencdi naturalists 

 assert that it is a distinct species and not a variety. 

 It is asserted by travelers that these bird.s, in their 

 wild state, perch ()n large trees that border rivei-s 

 and marshes, sinular to terrestial birds; they build 

 their nests thei'c, and as soon as the young ducklings 

 are hatched, the mother takes theJii one by (•m.- 

 and drojis them into the water. 



In a domestic state it pairs readily with the com- 

 mon tame ducks, but it is asserted on good authority 

 that such hybi'ids have proved unprolilic. We are 

 unalile to ascertain any one instance of tljese hybrids 

 Laving bred by themselves — another proot' ot their 

 being .a dili'erent species. 



The lirst |)oint that strikes us in the ]\Iusk duck 

 is the dis])nipoi-li(inale size of the male and lemale 

 — the latter not exceeding live, or at nmst si.\ lbs., 

 live weight, while the drake often reaches ten lbs. 



Those who expect that its singular ap[>earance 

 would render it a curious if not an elegant com 

 panion among our most attractive ducks, will be 

 disappointed; for it will seldom go near the water 

 if it can help it, luit it Will i)referthe farm-yard, the 

 precincts of the kitchen, or even the jjiggery itself, 

 to the cleanest stream that ever llowed. In fact, it 

 hates water, except some dirty puddle to drink or 

 dal)ble in. When thrown into a pond, it gets out 

 again as fast as it can. Its very short legs do not 

 ai)pear to l)e mechanically ada|)ted for the purpose 

 of swimming. It waddles on the surface of a pond 

 as nnich as it does on dry land; it is evidently out 

 of its place in either situation. Their ligure is of 

 m extraordinary elongated character, and the 

 shortness of their legs increases their stumpy ap- 

 pearance. The duck has considerable powers of 

 tiight, but her maters heavier bulk retards his 

 aerial excursions. IJeing as much terrestial as 

 acjuatic in their habits, they spend more time on 

 laud than on the water; and, contrary to .the usual 

 habits of this genus, the top of a wall or the low 

 lu'anches of a tree are favorite resting places. Its 

 feet apiiear by their form to be more adapted to 

 such purposes than those of other ducks. 



Although a native of a warm climate, the Musk 

 duck appears very well naturalized in this country. 

 Lt is fond of warmth — passing the night at tlie 

 iiorth, not in the open air, but in the fowl-house, 

 with the cock and hens, and selecting by day the 

 most sunny corner to bask and doze in. 



It has been asserted that the epithet "musk" has 



been given td this duck on account of its exhaling * 

 a strongish, musky scent, owing to a hunmr which ; 

 filters from glands ]i]aced nearihe niii!])-. On ac- ] 

 count of this peculiar odor, it is |)resumed, i-t luw 

 been banished from our taMi's. it is strange that a 

 dish slionid now' be so niucli out ot fashion as scarce- 

 ly ever to be seen or tasted, which g-raced every fea>t 

 one hundred and tifty years ago, and added dignity 

 to every table at which it w'as ju-nduced. 



The reason. prol>ably, why this duck is in such 

 ilbfavor at the present (hiy, is the musky flavor 

 ])ecnliar to old birds. To remove or take away 

 this imisky smell, the flesh of the rump must Ixj 

 removed, and the head cut olT as soon as a bird of 

 this species is killed. It is then, if not too old, a 

 very good dish, and as succulent as ihe wild duck. 

 But to have it in perleclion, it should be killed 

 when abont seven or eight months old. 'Whatever 

 is .«aid against it arises, we think, from pi-ejudice; 

 for we never knew any one to sit down to dine ott" 

 a young Musk duck, in good comlition, wlio did not 

 ]n-ononnce it really excellent. The flesh is lende.-. 

 Juicy, and not inferior to that of the wild duck, 

 as the writer can testify. 



The Musk duck is a ])rolilic breeder, and tb.o 

 newly hatched young resemble tho>e of the com- 

 mon duck. Tliey are deli^'ate and i'e(]uire somn 

 care while young, but are (piite hardy when full- 

 grown. They are hearty feedei's ; nothing seems 

 amiss to them — animal sul)s!ances; worms, shii:s. 

 insects and their larv:e, ;ire all acceplod with eagei'- 

 ne.-s. Their .•i|)petite is not. fa-tidious ; "they eat 

 all that is luscious, eat all they can,"' and ^^•enl to 

 be detei'inined to reward their owners by keeping 

 themselves in hr.'-t-rate condition, if the (■ii:.nc>,' oi' 

 doing so is afforded them. They never need ci-.aiu 

 ming — give them enough and they vvill cram them- 

 selves; yet they have I'efiuircments of their own, 

 which must be conceded. C'oniinement will not 

 do for them; a jiasture, an orchard, smooth and 

 level, with ditches abounding in tiie season with 

 tadjioles and the larvae of a(|ualic insects, are iho 

 localities in wdiich they delight, .-r.id in Mich they 

 are kept at little exiiense. 



It is a mistaken notion to suppose that ducks 

 mu-^t have a jiond or stream of \vat<'r ; the Mu.sk 

 duck, however, be it remembered, will do very well 

 where there is none. A small, shallow pan placed 

 so as to receive the waste water from the punv[> or 

 well, will atford every necessary arrangement. Wo 

 mice knew of a brood of .seventeen young ducks 

 having been reared in a garret. We have a Musk 

 duck at the present time (Angu^t) cooiied outnnder 

 some trees on the la.wn, with a brood of fourteen 

 young, which are doing remarkably well. They 

 are great insect-hunters, and it is cuirious to- see 

 their adroitness in capturing them. 



The main profit iToni rearing tlit> duck is its flesh. 

 From our experience, since residing on' S[)ringside, 

 it is our firm opinion that ducks can he raised witjj 

 greater profit, according to the cost of feeding them 

 and watcdiing over them, than most other poultry. 

 It is believed that thousands of fanners would 

 derive as much ju'ofit from such incidental ap})end- 

 ages to agriculture, as they do from their staple 

 crops. At any rate, they would furnish the family 

 mansion, as it were, without much cost, with mate- 

 rials for good living. o. n. bexenx. 

 Spnii'jsidey A ugiiist, I860.. 



