Wild Ducks from an Incubator.



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WILD DUCKS FROM AN INCUBATOR.


By Herbert K. Job,


State Ornithologist of Connecticut.


(By kind permission of the Outing Publishing Co.)


The Crucial Stage of the Manitoba Wild Duck Expedition

—Hatching, Rearing and Transporting the Ducklings.


{Concluded).


Out in the wilds our resources were scant. Some of them

survived the long journey. An expert from the New York Zoological

Park came out to advise on the problem. Minnows were offered

them, and they were given a varied fish, meat, and insect diet, all in

vain. At the Zoological Park, we were told, they had never been

able to keep Scoters alive. Here is a problem for further study.


The Ruddy Duck is another problem. This duck, though

little larger than a Teal, lays eggs bigger than those of such large

species as the Mallard and Canvasback. The young are most

curious creatures. Similar in colour to the young Scoters, they are

differently marked, and, rather strangely, have larger bills, of broad

spoon-shape. They have a coarse, hair-like plumage, and are fat

and squatty, about as broad as they are long. Their legs are set

uncommonly far “ aft,” even for a diving duck, and the body is so

heavy that they can hardly stand more than for a moment. The

feet are enormously broad. Waddling a few steps, down they fall

and lie there, blinking helplessly, with a sort of foolish air. Seldom

would they take even a mouthful of food or drink. The way they

flop over the ground reminds one of turtles.


I tried various plans to induce them to eat. About the only

way was to put food in water, but they made bad work with it, and

soon would become thoroughly soaked. The first attempt killed one

with cramp, and I had to desist. If I forced food down their

throats they hawked it up. They steadily refused food, and died in

less than a week. Opening one that was four days old, I was

surprised to find a large unabsorbed yolk in the abdominal cavity.

It is entirely different from any other duck, if, indeed, it deserves to

be classed with the ducks. It presents a singular problem—which,

by the way, our guide did not consider worth solving.



