AQUATIC FOWLS. 



269 



The black are deemed the handsomest, the 

 most productive, and yield the finest flavored 

 flesh. The black are glossed with green on the 

 back, and changeable as they are exposed to the 

 rays of the sun. But the first-named color 

 would seem to belong to the bird in its wild 

 state ; and the best specimens of the tame birds 

 are of similar plumage. In the domestic state 

 it exhibits every variety of color, like the com- 

 mon duck. At one time the male is white, at 

 another the female is white ; in other instances 

 both male and female are of a lead color, yel- 

 lowish, with more or less white. A crest, ele- 

 vated or depressed at pleasure, rises from the 

 back of the neck, and a scarlet, fleshy space 

 surrounds the eye, continued from scarlet car- 

 runcles at the base of the bill. The colors of 

 the legs and feet vary with that of the plumage, 

 being mottled in dull flesh color and black, ac- 

 cording to the tints of the latter. Their figure 

 is of an extremely elongated character, and the 

 shortness of their legs increase their stumpy ap- 

 pearance. The duck has considerable powers 

 of flight; but her mate's heavier bulk retards 

 his aerial excursions. Contrary to the usual 

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

 branches of a low tree are favorite resting- 

 places. Its feet appear by their form to be 

 more adapted to such purposes than those of 

 most other ducks. If allowed to spend the 

 night in the hen-house, the female will general- 

 ly go to roost by the side of the hens, but the 

 drake is too heavy and clumsy to mount thither 

 with ease ; and thus they are certainly less 

 aquatic in their habits than the other species, 

 though equally disposed to cultivate a familiar 

 intercourse with man. 



Travelers assert that these birds, in their 

 wild state, perch on large trees that border riv- 

 ers and marshes, similar to terrestrial birds ; 

 they build their nests there, and as soon as their 

 ducklings are hatched, the mother takes them 

 one by one and drops them into the water. 

 Laying takes place two or three times in a year, 

 and each is from twelve to eighteen eggs, quite 

 round, and of a greenish white. The moulting 

 season begins in September, and is sometimes 

 so complete, that the ducks, finding themselves 

 almost destitute of feathers, are unable to fly, 



and let themselves be taken alive by the natives. 

 These birds are as shy as our wild ducks, and 

 it is by surprise alone that they are to be shot. 



Those that expect that its singular appear- 

 ance would render it a curious, if not an elegant 

 companion, among our most attractive ducks, 

 will be disappointed ; for it will seldom go near 

 the water if it can help it, but will prefer the 

 farm-yard, the precincts of the kitchen, or even 

 the piggery itself, to the clearest stream that 

 ever flowed. In fact, it hates water, except 

 some dirty puddle to drink and drabble in. 

 When thrown into a pond it gets out again as 

 fast as it can. Its very short leg does not ap- 

 pear to be mechanically adapted for the purpose 

 of swimming. It waddles on the surface of a 

 pond as much as it does on dry land ; it is evi- 

 dently out of its place in either situation. 



The voice of the drake is so harsh and croak- 

 ing that he has been described as if perpetually 

 suffering from a sore throat ; and, contrary to 

 the usual rule among their congeners, the fe- 

 male is comparatively silent. 



As layers they are inferior to the Rouen or 

 Aylesbury, but probably on a par with the usual 

 inhabitants of the duck-pond. The eggs are 

 of a dull white, and very seldom exceed three 

 ounces in weight. The period of incubation is 

 about five weeks. 



The male is very salacious, and pairs readily 

 with tame or domestic ducks, and the birds 

 thus produced are of large size, seven and eight 

 pounds each being no unusual live weights. It 

 is asserted, on good authority, that such hybrids 

 have proved unprolific; while others assert to 

 the contrary. Out of one hundred eggs of this 

 hybrid sort, M. Parmentier was able to succeed 

 in hatching scarcely twenty ducklings ; and 

 hence, to keep up the stock, Olivier de Serres 

 advises to continue crossing every year, by keep- 

 ing a sufficient number of Musk drakes with the 

 common ducks. We are unable to ascertain 

 any one instance of these hybrids having bred 

 by themselves; but suited with a bird of the 

 parent species, we have little doubt that in most 

 instances a prolific union would take place. 

 The female will also, though not so readily, 

 pair with the common drake. The hybrid has 

 a deep-green plumage, and is destitute of the 



