AQUATIC FOWLS. 



2G7 



their specimens from the former place; but 

 whether these, were original stock in that coun- 

 try, or imported from the Asiatic continent, we 

 know not. Nothing is more probable than that 

 the Zoological Society had their birds from the 

 East, via Buenos Ayres. Whether the stock 

 had been introduced there a month, or twenty 

 years previously, does not alter the main fact ; 

 while ships direct from India would be very 

 likely to land a few pairs at the first channel 

 port they touched at. 



"But from whatever quarter obtained, they 

 are handsome creatures. A little girl, at first 

 sight of them, could not help exclaiming: 'Oh, 

 what beautiful golden-green ducks !' 



"This duck is of less size and lighter than 

 cither the Rouen or Aylesbury breeds, the adult 

 male rarely exceeding five pounds in live weight, 

 while the females average but four pounds. 

 Their plumage, however, is strikingly beautiful, 

 and possesses the peculiarity unusual in birds 

 of this genus, that the drake does not monopo- 

 lize all its glories, a portion of his refulgence 

 being granted to the duck. Metallic tints, vary- 

 ing with the light from green to a gilded purple, 

 decorate their garb of uniform velvet black, 

 their bills and feet being of the same dark hue. 

 Not only the neck and back, but the larger 

 feathers of the tail and wings, are gilt with 

 metallic green. On a sunny day of spring, the 

 effect of these glittering black ducks sporting 

 on the blue water is very pleasing, and adds 

 much to the beauty of the scene. With all 

 their brilliant combinations of color, there is a 

 singularly neat and close make, and compact- 

 ness of feathers, which suggests their compari- 

 son, in these respects, with the Game fowl, 



" All who have kept these birds unite in ex- 

 pressing their constant annoyance at the appear- 

 ance of more or less white feathers after their 

 first month. Mr. Nolan, indeed, remarks, that 

 they often then become entirely white. This 

 latter metamorphosis we never have ourselves 

 witnessed, though we have frequently seen it to 

 the extent of giving the bird the pied appear- 

 ance. Many are also of opinion that the duck 

 is more apt to exhibit this peculiarity than the 

 male bird. The white feathers so produced re- 

 main till the next moulting, when the bird fre- 



quently discards them altogether, and reas- 

 sumes its perfect sable plumage ; they are, how- 

 ever, often permanent. Impurity of blood has 

 been assigned as the cause of this, occasional 

 drawback to their undoubted beauty ; but we 

 are not yet aware of any yard, however careful- 

 ly selected, that has wholly escaped the occur- 

 rence of this blemish. 



"A peculiarity of these ducks is, that the 

 eggs they lay in the beginning of the season 

 are frequently smeared with a dark greasy mat- 

 ter, which causes them to appear of a slaty, 

 and sometimes even of a black hue ; but the 

 color of those subsequently laid, gradually fades 

 to that of the common kinds. This strange ap- 

 pearance is not caused by any internal stain 

 penetrating the whole thickness of the shell, 

 but by an oily pigment which may be scraped 

 off with the nail. In form they are elongated, 

 being smooth, thin shelled, and weighing about 

 two ounces. They lay, perhaps, a little later 

 than other ducks, and some say a little more 

 difficult to rear, being very subject to cramp; 

 this will not surprise us when we remember the 

 warmer temperature of their original Eastern 

 abode. 



" The drakes are unusually pugnacious ; and 

 on that account it is impossible to keep two of 

 them in the same inclosure. The imported 

 birds usually pair ; but a drake from their prod- 

 uce will occasionally attend to three or four 

 ducks. If any complaint should be made in 

 regard to unfertilized eggs, it might thus be 

 explained, as in the case of the Musk duck, 

 with which domestication has had a like effect. 



" They are less disposed to confinement than 

 other domestic ducks, and the most suitable lo- 

 cality is found for them on a piece of ornamental 

 water, where, in addition to the beauty of their 

 appearance, they add the farther recommenda- 

 tion of the highest gratification for the table. 

 For this latter purpose they require no fattening, 

 and but few wild ducks are more tender or of 

 higher flavor." 



THE MTJSK, OR BRAZILIAN DUCK. 



Our portraits at the head of page 268 were 

 furnished by a friend from specimens in his own 

 yard, who says, in a note accompanying them, 



