Poultry Keeping 



305 



FIG. 246. A white Muscovy drake. 



U. S. D. A. 



Various 

 breeds 



are delicate and difficult to raise, and they must be kept The young 

 out of damp grass, as they easily chill to death. 



All breeds of ducks except one (the Muscovy) have Ducks 

 been developed from the wild mallard in the Old World. 

 Ducks eat much more than chickens, and as egg pro- 

 ducers they are generally considered less profitable 

 than hens. They are raised mainly for meat. The 

 Rouen duck, from northern France, very closely re- 

 sembles the mallard. The Aylesbury duck, the com- 

 mon English breed, is white. So, also, is the Pekin 

 duck, originally from China, which is the most popular 

 breed in America. The Indian Runner, a duck that 

 stands almost erect, is the best layer of all. It is 

 spoken of as the Leghorn of the duck family. 



At least one other breed of ducks is of interest to us Muscovy 

 a breed distinct from all of those that sprang from the 

 wild mallard stock. They are called " Muscovy " 



ducks 



