THE COMMON DUCK. 149 



those with a tuft of feathers on one side of 

 the head, resembling a large cockade. 

 They lay in the course of a year, when well 

 kept, more than one hundred bluish eggs ; 

 but as they drop them about anywhere, even 

 in water, they are usually shut up at night 

 during the laying season, and only permit- 

 ted to have access to the water in the after- 

 noon. Nor is it usual to trust ducks wil'i 

 the rearing of a brood ; this is more effect- 

 ually done by placing the eggs under a sit- 

 ting hen. They are gross feeders, arid will 

 greedily devour the most corrupt and putrid 

 animal and vegetable substances. 



The most profitable mode of raising ducks 

 for market, or for one's own use, is to shut 

 them up in a pen well littered with straw 

 and frequently renewed, and never to allow 

 them to have any water to swim in, but 

 enough to satisfy their thirst. Give them a 

 full supply of corn, oats, boiled potatoes, 

 and as much fat, and even tainted meat or 

 fish, with cabbages, or lettuce, or parsley, 

 as they can devour. Continue this for a 

 rronth, and then let them have only corn 



