Black East Indian Ducks. 547 



Again, in the autumn I turn the whole flock of them into a field, in which there is a small pond, or, 

 as it is called in North Shropshire, a ' pit,' and there I leave them to their own devices, and until the 

 acorns have ceased falling they never ask me for food. They can fly like Wild Ducks, but never go 

 away, and I have never lost any ; but, at the same time, I would advise all who introduce them into 

 their yards for the first time to take care, by clipping or tying the flight-feathers, or in some other 

 way, to stop all flying until they become used to their new abode. I have known many lost 

 through want of this precaution. 



" Ducks are notoriously bad to manage when ill ; no medicine seems to have the least eff"ect. 

 But several times, when mine have refused to eat, and were pining away, as they do sometimes, I 

 have cured them by keeping them in a warm place, and cramming them with bread and milk. 

 Whether it is that their throats get sore, so that they cannot eat, I know not ; but this is the only 

 remedy I have ever found of any use. 



" In conclusion, let me hope that the gentlemen who may be appointed judges at future shows 

 will take into consideration my suggestion as to size, for I feel sure that equally beautiful, nay, 

 more beautiful, ducks will be shown if we are not so tied down to size, while the gain in point of 

 constitution, prolificacy, and general usefulness will be immense." 



Mr. G. S. Sainsbury, of Devizes, also well known as a breeder and successful exhibitor, has 

 furnished the following additional notes upon this breed, in which, as will be seen, he speaks 

 particularly of their economic merits : — 



" There are some fanciers who would assign to Black East Indian Ducks, amongst water-fowl, 

 the same position that Bantams hold amongst fowls. To this I nmst ask permission to demur ; 

 they are, truly, fancy ducks, but not fancy ducks only ; they combine the useful with the 

 ornamental, producing, as has been remarked, the greatest quantity of meat with the smallest 

 proportion of bone of any denizen of the poultry-yard. As a Black Duck breeder of nearly twenty 

 years' standing, I certainly can say I consider them one of the most interesting and useful varieties 

 of water-fowl any one can keep ; they are good layers, and if not more than two ducks are allowed 

 to run with a drake, their eggs are as fertile as others. The ducklings, when first hatched, have 

 black bodies with a shade of yellow on the breast ; the feet, legs, and bill being jet black. They 

 require care for the first few days ; their food should consist of chopped eggs for the first two days, 

 after which they will thoroughly appreciate bread and milk ; but the great thing is not to overfeed 

 them or let them go to the water too early, as they are subject to cramp. When once old enough to 

 do so, the more exercise they have the better, as they seldom come to perfection in a close or 

 confined yard ; in fact, I have often seen birds perfect in colour, of a size and shape much more 

 befitting a Rouen or Aylesbury than the neat, compact little East Indian, and I believe this maybe 

 entirely attributed to their not having had sufficient space and exercise in their young days ; and 

 in these remarks I believe to be embodied the essentials necessary to the successful rearing and 

 management of them. I might add, they do much better hatched under ducks than under hens. 



" In breeding for successful exhibition, the points to be aimed at are, above all, a small size — 

 the smaller the better- — and neat shape, round heads, with short bills, and short bodies. The colour 

 should be pure black, free from white or brown feathers, with a bright green metallic lustre 

 throughout ; the duck's bill should be a pure black, free from a shade of green, as we often see. 

 Some say that of the drake should be also black, but I prefer an olive-green bill, and however 

 black they may be at first, they seldom retain that colour ; a yellow bill in a drake is a decided 

 disqualification, though doubtless the older they are the lighter the colour becomes. The feet 

 and legs should also be nearly black. It will be seen the great thing to be aimed at is small size, 

 neat shape, lustrous plumage (free from foul feathers), colour of bill and legs, shape of bill and 



