184 Animal Life 
and structure, man has succeeded in z 
producing from the Common Wild 
Duck or Mallard many striking 
varieties. 
When the work of domestica- 
tion first began is not known, but 
it has certainly extended over a 
very long period, since we find 
mention of ducks kept in netted 
enclosures eighteen centuries ago. 
Of the seven or eight well- 
marked breeds of our show-pens, 
the Aylesbury and Rouen are the S 
most highly esteemed. The former 70” 4 Drawing by Harrison Weir. 
is a pure-white breed much in Heraeus 
demand for table purposes. The latter resembles the wild duck in colour but far 
surpasses 1t In size, attaining a weight of from 6lbs. to 8lbs., whilst the wild duck does 
not exceed 3lbs. 80zs. Hven heavier is the Cayuga Duck, which is the opposite of 
the Aylesbury, bemg of a lustrous black colour throughout. 
The varieties which exhibit marked structural peculiarities are the Penguin and 
Hook-Billed Ducks. The former has a perfectly upright carnage, recalling that of the 
bird from which it takes its name, whilst in the latter the beak curves downwards in 
a most remarkable manner. In the breed known as the Tufted or Top-Knot Duck 
the head is surmounted by a large mop-shaped crest of feathers, and for some quite 
inexplicable reason the bones of the skull immediately under the crest are perforated 
by two large apertures. 
The young of the duck, like those of the goose, differ conspicuously from those of 
the turkey. In the latter the wings are the first to become feathered, so that flight 
is possible within a few days after birth, whilst the body is still invested im its downy 
coat. With the duck, both wild and tame, the reverse is the case. The wings develop 
with extreme slowness; not only do the bones grow more slowly than the leg-bones, 
but the feathers do not appear till after the body feathers, so that the bird is more 
than half-grown before the development of the wings commences. This is explained 
by the very different habits of the birds in question. With the turkeys, as with the 
other game-birds, escape from carnivores and birds of prey depends on flight. With the 
ducks and geese, which are aquatic, escape is effected by hiding among the reeds. 
In the matter of voice it is extremely interesting to note that, whilst in the turkey 
it is the male which is the principal spokesman of the family, with the ducks the oratory 
is undertaken by the female. 
FOUR-MONTHS’ GOSLINGS (COMMON GEESE). 
