DUCKS. 109 



the common varieties. They will breed with other 

 ducks, but the hybrids are mules, or sterile. While kept 

 mostly as curiosities, or for ornamental purposes, the 

 crosses are said to make excellent market poultry. 



The Pekin is an Asiatic variety having been first 

 imported from Pekin, China, in 1873. The plumage 

 is white with a creamy-yellow shading, the feathers 

 being downy and fluffy like Asiatic chickens. While 

 the ' 'Standard" gives their weights as a pound lighter 

 than Rouens or Aylesburys, they are commonly 

 regarded as a larger duck than either. 



The introduction of the Pekins to this couritry 

 gave a new impetus to duck breeding, and many 

 persons have entered into it on an extensive scale. 

 The Indian Runner is now largely used as a me- 

 dium-sized market duck. It is claimed to be the 

 greatest layer of the duck family. A matured duck 

 weighs four to five pounds ; drake, five to six live 

 weight. The young grow rapidly and are easy to 

 raise. In color they are fawn and white. 



The keeping of ducks for eggs is a profitable part 

 of the duck business, when rightly conducted, and 

 the keeper is within easy access to a city market. 

 During the early spring months dtick eggs bring 

 higher prices than hen eggs, and it is at this season 

 that ducks are most prolific. To obtain the best 

 results from eggs the laying ducks should be hatched 

 the latter part of the breeding season, in June and 

 July. The spring-hatched will grow larger and will 

 make better breeding stock, but with proper care 

 these late broods will lay as soon as the severity of 

 winter is over, as soon> in fact, as tho early-hatched* 



