S 4



a very moderate amount of water. Of course some members

have no ground or garden, which is essential, but, as many have

small gardens, in which a pair or so may be well and profitably

kept, I may be excused if I digress for a few lines as to the best

means of keeping them. I will not attempt at present to go

into the various species—but for those who may care to look it

up, there is a short article by myself on the British species in

Vol. III. of this Magazine, and there is also an excellent article

by Mr. Finn in the Feathered World of 12th inst. (b). Where a

large pond is not available, ducks will do better kept separately in

pairs, or two pairs of different species, in small enclosures ; a

space 10 ft. square, with a pond 3X2 tt., and planted with

suitable bushes to give them cover is all that is required. Low

box bushes are, in my opinion, the best, and a clump or so of

the common rush, as neither of these plants die down in winter,

nor is the verdure fresh enough for the ducks to eat it. These 1

should arrange at the back of the aviary, carpeting under the

bushes, and for some distance in front with turf—the pond

might be placed somewhere near the front, and the rest of the

aviary sanded over with clean coarse sand. As to the pond,

there need be no great difficulty, for it can easily be made with a

bag of cement and a load of sand, by any handy man—or, if

preferred, it may be made of bricks cemented together—18

inches is quite deep enough—and it should have one shelving

end, in order that the ducks may be easily able to get in and

out. Ducks, in my opinion, are best pinioned, as, if they

have full use of their wings, they are apt to hurt themselves

at “flight-time” every evening; if pinioned, a 3 feet course

of wire netting is all that is required to keep them in, provided

always there are no stray cats! As to food, mine have

ordinal poultry meal every morning, and soaked corn at

night, with regard to soaking the corn, it is the simplest plan to

put it to soak every night for the next evening, directly after

feeding them. It is not absolutely essential that the corn

should be soaked, but it is, I think, far better, and much more

appreciated. They should also have some green meat chopped

up with the meal once or twice a week. Of course, when they

have young, the ducklings should be fed as chickens, but given

plenty of ants’ eggs : a handful thrown on the water will afford

them endless amusement.


Apart from the Anatidae, the only birds of interest were a

pair of Brown’s Parrakeets and a Bee Eater. The former are



(b). See also Vol. II., page 112 .—D. S.-S.



