AQUATIC FOWLS. 



281 



joined a cock and hen, and became so attached 

 to them that it never willingly quitted their com- 

 pany, notwithstanding some harsh usage, par- 

 ticularly from the cock. It would neither feed 

 nor rest without them, and showed its uneasi- 

 ness at their occasional absence by continual 

 clamor." 



We once had an individual duck of the crested 

 variety, which, after losing its mate, would keep 

 with a few particular fowls during the day, and 

 at night, when the fowls went to rest, she would 

 follow up the stairs into the second story of the 

 poultry-house, and sit as near the fowls as she 

 could get. But after we had placed a few 

 African geese in the yard, she left the hens and 

 contracted an intimacy with the geese, keeping 

 constantly with them. 



Ducks thrive best, and are cleanest in the 

 neighborhood of water, such as a pond or stream 

 of water, swamps or marshes, as where there is 

 an abundance of water they will find the greater 

 part of their living. They are the most indus- 

 trious of all the fowl tribe, and we have often 

 gazed on them with admiration to see them 

 sputter ins hallow, and dive down in deep water. 

 Ducks are carnivorous as well as granivorous ; 

 they will thrive on flesh and garbage of any 

 kind like the chicken ; yet water insects, weeds, 

 vegetables, and corn, are their general food. 

 They are also very fond of fish, and will greedily 

 devour it even when partly decomposed ; this, 

 of course, will impart a bad flavor to their flesh 

 if continued. In respect to food, ducks may be 

 almost termed omnivorous ; for few things come 

 amiss to them. Slugs, worms, and aquatic in- 

 sects, form a large portion of their sustenance 

 when kept in suitable localities ; but since grass 

 and herbage go but a little way to satisfy their 

 appetites, they are, comparatively speaking, far 

 more expensive to keep than geese. The ref- 

 use of the kitchen-garden is eagerly devoured, 

 und where grass is not attainable, must be regu- 

 larly supplied. When feeding for the table, a 

 portion of skim-milk with their meal forwards 

 them very rapidly. 



Habitation. The duck-house should, if pos- 

 sible, be of brick, and paved with the same ma- 

 terial, with considerable inclination, so that the 

 wet, when the floor is sluiced down, may at 



once pass off. Wood is seldom secure against 

 rats, and does not so well suit the cleaning pro- 

 cess of water and the lime-brush, and few places 

 require their application more frequently. Do 

 not crowd your birds, and always arrange for 

 good ventilation. When the flock is large, 

 separate the young ones, that they may thus 

 have the advantage of better food, and that no 

 risk may be incurred of finding the eggs of the 

 older ones trodden under foot and broken at 

 your morning visit. On this account the laying 

 ducks should always have plenty of room, and 

 be kept by themselves. Ducks for these rea- 

 sons, as well as for the sake of cleanliness, 

 should never share the habitation of fowls, and 

 from geese they are liable to persecution. Yet 

 where fowls are kept, a little contrivance will 

 suffice to make their berth even in a fowl- 

 house tolerably comfortable. In winter, a thin 

 bedding of straw or rushes should be placed on 

 the floor, and frequently changed. 



When circumstances permit, we recommend 

 the arrangement adopted in our own case, 

 where the house for the old ducks adjoins their 

 pond, which is railed in. They are accustomed 

 to be fed here, and readily present themselves 

 at the proper time; in the morning they get 

 their food apart from both geese and fowls, 

 neither plundered by the former, nor pilfering 

 from the latter; and thus, too, their eggs are 

 secured with far greater certainty, since the 

 birds are not released from their inclosure till 

 after the hour which usually witnesses the de- 

 posit of their eggs. By the time the ducks ob- 

 tain their liberty the geese have gone to their 

 pasture. The duck generally lays at night, or 

 early in the morning, and is usually disposed to 

 lay away from her proper house ; but by our 

 plan many eggs are secured which otherwise 

 would have probably been lost. 



Where there is much extent of water and 

 shrubbery within the range of ducks, they are 

 liable to lay and sit abroad, unless they are con- 

 stantly looked after, and driven home at night, 

 and provided with proper shelter or pens. These 

 may be made of rough boards, or of rustic work, 

 thatched with straw. On an island, with small 

 trees, it would make quite a picturesque appear- 

 ance. 



