156 AN13IALS IN MENAGERIES. 



(the gold and the silver), together with the different 

 species of curassow birds_, are those most likely to breed^ 

 and perpetuate their kinds, under the management of 

 those "who will sedulously persevere in using " all 

 appliances and means to boot" to effect such an object : 

 when once these means are discovered^ all the real 

 difficulty ceases ; and with the fact upon record, that a 

 Dutch amateur could desire his cook to kill a curassow 

 bird, with the same ease as if he ordered a turkey or a 

 fowl, we need not despair of being able eventually to 

 do the same thing in England. 



Let us now turn to the aquatic birds, or rather to 

 those which are of the rasorial division of that order ; 

 and these are all comprised in the family of the 

 AnatidcE, or ducks, collectively so called. Most of those 

 we have included in our selection are much more hardy 

 than the generality of the foreign galHnaceous birds, 

 requiring less care in every way, and are therefore more 

 adapted for private collections ; this is one of the rea- 

 sons that have induced us to give them so prominent a 

 place in our list. Some of these may be kept by any 

 person, from the gentleman farmer who has a duck- 

 pond in his fields, to the wealthy owner of a country 

 seat, whose grounds are watered by a river or artificial 

 canal. To these might be added other well known 

 aquatic fowls, not particularly described in this work ; 

 such as the water-hen, coot, dab-chick. Sec. ; which, if 

 once located, and kept perfectly undisturbed by dogs, 

 &c., would soon increase without further care, trouble, 

 or expense. For the other hardy species, food and 

 shelter during the depth of winter seems to be all that 

 is necessary ; while, if the sides of the pond are inclosed 

 by a properly constructed iron fence, little danger might 

 be apprehended either from dogs or other enemies. 



It appears from the Guide to the Zoological Society's 

 Gardens," published under their authority, that the fol- 

 lowing species are now (August, 1837) living in their 

 menageries : — 



