Hunting Duck Eggs in the Marshes of Lake Manitoba. 351



The young hybrids closely resemble Blue-breasted Waxbills

which I have bred before ; they are, however, perhaps a trifle paler

in colour. Cordon Bleus have the iris of a reddish-brown colour

and the beak has a distinct pink tinge. In the Blue-breasted Wax-

bills the iris is dark-brown and the bill is horn-coloured ; the latter

species are moreover half-inch longer and, of course, considerably

brighter in body colour.


It will be interesting to note later which parent the hybrids

favour, and more especiallv to find out whether they are capable of

reproduction. I am hoping to get another brood this summer, which

will increase my chance of securing one or more breeding pairs for

next year.


I have marked the hybrids with numbered rings and shall

turn them out in an aviary by themselves so as to avoid all chance


of confusion with either of the parent species.


* * *


Later. —Only one youngster was reared from the second

nest and he was obviously brighter in colour than the young hybrids

on leaving the nest. Unfortunately he disappeared mysteriously

so I shall not be able to comparo the gradual attainment of body-

colour in the pure-bred and cross-bred young.



HUNTING DUCK EGGS IN THE

MARSHES OF LAKE MANITOBA.


By Herbert Iv. Job.


(By kind permission of the Outing Publishing Co.)


The Luck of an Expedition That Set Out to Solve the Primary

Problem of Breeding Wild Ducks in Captivity.


Several years ago when on a scientific expedition in Saskat¬

chewan we secured eggs of various species of wild ducks. A number

of these, supposed to be fresh, I carried some 2,500 miles in the

cars and set under hens. Most of them proved to have started in

incubation and were spoiled. Two incomplete sets, however, that

were absolutely fresh, hatched, but the young died owing to improper

food. Since that time much has been learned about the feeding of

wild ducks in confinement.


In many respects this field is uncommonly attractive. Though



