Muscovy or Musk Ducks. 541 



wing' [a wing with feathers growing out the wrong way ; ducl<s are subject to this, lil^e Asiatics], 

 or any other malformation, however large and good in markings the bird may be ; still, if a 

 well-bred one, it is quite likely to produce first-class young ones if well mated. The same may 

 be said if the parents have slightly defective bills, or are under sized ; in spite of these defects, 

 they may throw some splendid birds, and indeed are very likely to do so if they come from really 

 good stock. 



" In selecting birds for showing, you must pay some attention to the rules or custom of the 

 show. If it is stated, or you have reason to know, that Birminghain rules will be adhered to, you 

 must pick out your heaviest birds, and not be too particular (though, of course, reasonably so) as to 

 condition and feathering ; since at Birmingham the prizes are almost always awarded to the greatest 

 weight. If only the ordinary provisions are made in the rules, besides paying attention to size, 

 the most showy birds should be chosen, and great attention paid to perfection of plumage. During 

 the summer months, until say about September, ducklings will almost always beat older birds, as 

 they are getting into full feather while the old ones are moulting." 



Mr. Fowler's notes are so full and explicit as to leave us scarcely anything to add. We may 

 only remark that, like the Mallard, the Rouen drake changes his beautiful plumage for the garb 

 of the female during the summer. The duck is a capital layer. 



THE MUSCOVY OR MUSK DUCK seems to be a comparatively distinct species, as the 

 progeny of a cross between them and the more common kinds is found decidedly unfertile, at least 

 when bred inter se, though we believe they have been bred with the parent strains. The distinct 

 habitat of the wild species is also in favour of this view, for whilst the Mallard extends through the 

 northern regions, including both America and Europe, and probably even Asia, the Musk Duck is 

 found wild only in the warmer regions of South America. Its district ranges from Guiana to Para- 

 guay, but it does not migrate, which is another strong argument in favour of its distinct origin. 

 In Brazil it is extensively domesticated, and is indeed the duck of the country ; and it is also 

 domesticated throughout both England and great part of Europe, particularly in Germany. The 

 name is derived from an odour of musk wjiich pervades the skin, but which is not present in the 

 flesh when cooked ; and Muscovy is obviously only a corruption of this term. 



The Wild Musk Duck is stated by ^11 travellers to be a very active bird, even flying to the 

 trees when alarmed, and passing the night in the same situation, perching upon the branches ; 

 which again marks a very wide distinction between Cairina Moscha and Anas boschas. The nest, 

 too, is sometimes built in the branches, sometimes in a hollow near the water. Some observers 

 have stated that they rear two broods, one in May and one in September, but this is uncertain. 

 Before pairing the males fight desperately, during which they "make the feathers fly" to such an 

 extent as to cover the ground at the scene of combat, and this quarrelsome disposition is strongly 

 inherited by the domestic race. 



The general colour of the Musk Duck is black and white, not variegated, but in large patches ; 

 but we have also seen pure white, pure black, and a kind of blue dun. The feathers seem very 

 loose, looking as if half had moulted and the rest were just ready to drop out ; but the most 

 peculiar and distinctive characteristics are about the head, the cheeks being naked, with a scarlet 

 fleshy space round the eye, and the base of the bill carunculated also with scarlet. The head of 

 the drake is very large, and these appearances are in him far more conspicuous, and give to him, 

 in conjunction with a peculiar leer we have never seen in any other creature with feathers on, an 

 aspect almost diabolical. The drake is very large, having been known to reach ten, eleven, and 

 even twelve pounds, and is destitute of the curled feathers common to other ducks — again markino- 



