THE



Bvtcultural /Hbaga3iite t


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.





VOL. II.— NO. 20.



All rights reserved.



JUNE, 1896.



THE ANATI D AL.


By D. Seth-Smith.


The group of birds known as the Anatidce or swimmers

comprises a large number of species, some of which make, most

delightful and interesting studies for the aviculturist. In a

large garden aviary where there is plenty of covert and a small

pond, one pair of ornamental ducks may be kept with ease ; and.

few birds will call forth the admiration of visitors sooner than a

pair of gorgeous Mandarins or Summer Ducks. No mention

has been made as yet in our magazine of this family, although

it includes many lovely and rare species, well worthy of the

aviculturist’s attention.


This'branch of aviculture would, I feel sure, be more

popular were it better known how hardy most of the foreign

ducks are, and how very easily they may be kept, and how readily

they will breed in a confined space. Mandarins will often breed,

if fairly tame, in an enclosure but six feet square or less, and no

doubt many other species would do likewise, while a very small

amount of water satisfies them. It should, however, be remembered

that many newly imported specimens are very timid at first, and

it is therefore advisable to give them as large an enclosure as

possible, with plenty of covert.


Those who are fortunate enough to have a stream passing

through their gardens would find little difficulty in making a

perfect paradise for ornamental ducks : probably with a small

amount of trouble and expense it could be opened out so as to

form a fair-sized pond, through which fresh water would be

continually flowing. The banks might be thickly planted with

rushes or any plants that would produce thick covert, under

which the ducks would make their nests. The enclosure should

be formed by a fence, five or six feet high, formed of wire netting

nailed to wooden posts, and let into the ground to a depth of a

foot. At the top of this another piece of netting should be



