146 Ducks. 



They have produced 150 large eggs in a year, and are 

 better sitters than the Rouen. 



The Rouen is hardy and easily reared, but rarely lay till 

 February or March. They thrive better in most parts of 

 England than the Aylesburys, and care less for the water 

 than the other varieties. They are very handsome, and 

 weigh eight or nine pounds each, and their flesh is 

 excellent. 



The Muscovy duck is so called, says Ray, " not because 

 it comes from Muscovy, but because it exhales a somewhat 

 powerful odour of musk." Little is known of its origin, 

 which is generally thought to be South America ; nor has 

 the date of its introduction into Europe been ascertained. 

 " This species/' says Mr. W. C. L. Martin, " will inter- 

 breed with the common duck, but we believe the progeny 

 are not fertile. The Musk duck greatly exceeds the 

 ordinary kind in size, and moreover, differs in the colours 

 and character of the plumage, in general contour, and the 

 form of the head. The general colour is glossy blue- 

 black, varied more or less with white ; the head is crested, 

 and a space of naked scarlet skin, more or less clouded 

 with violet, surrounds the eye, continued from scarlet ca- 

 runcles on the base of the beak ; the top of the head is 

 crested, the feathers of the body are larger, more lax, 

 softer, and less closely compacted together than in the 

 common duck, and seem to indicate less aquatic habits. 

 The male far surpasses the female in size ; there are no 

 curled feathers in his tail." The male is fierce and quarrel- 

 some, and when enraged has a savage appearance, and 

 utters deep, hoarse sounds. The flesh is very good, but 

 the breed is inferior as a layer to the Aylesbury or Rouen. 



The Buenos Ayres, Labrador, or East Indian, brought 

 most probably from the first-named country, is a smal! 

 and very beautiful variety, with the plumage of a uniform 

 rich, lustrous, greenish-black, and dark legs and bills ; the 

 drake rarely weighing five pounds, and the duck four 

 pounds. Their eggs are often smeared over with a slatey- 

 coloured matter, but the shell is really of a dull white. 



