138 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



all the duck varieties, often thriving in very unsuitable 

 places ; and they are hardy, mature rapidly, and grow to a 

 great size. The only difference between drakes and ducks 

 is, that the former are rather larger than the latter, and have 

 a curled feather in the tail, by which the sex is very easily 

 distinguished. The average weight of these birds, when 

 twelve months old, is 71b. for the drake, and 61b. for the duck ; 

 but, of course, by special feeding, such as is adopted for 

 exhibition birds, and those for table purposes, these weights 

 can be exceeded to a considerable extent ; and the winning 

 birds at the Birmingham show of 1882, were upwards of 

 201b. the pair. Ducklings generally weigh, if properly fed, 

 about 41b. when seven or eight weeks old, which is the usual 

 age for killing : for when they get older their adult feathers 

 begin to form, and they are neither so plump, nor yet so 

 presentable on the table. The nearest in appearance are 

 Pekins, but it is not very difficult to distinguish Aylesburys 

 from them, as the pure-bred Aylesburys are perfectly white, of 

 a boat shape, with short legs and a long fine neck ; and any 

 deviation from these points denotes impurity. We often see 

 so-called Aylesburys with a partially erect body, yellowish 

 bills, or canary-coloured plumage, all, or any of which, show 

 that Pekin blood has been introduced, too many of our birds 

 being thus crossed now-a-days. We do not object to this 

 cross, and it is doubtless at times very advantageous, but we 

 prefer to do it ourselves, and not have others sell us as pure- 

 bred stock birds that have been so adulterated. 



The Rouen. — This may be regarded as the handsomest 

 of all the larger varieties of the duck tribes, and, as we have 

 already stated, is like the wild duck in its plumage. But 

 domestication has resulted in its losing the more graceful 

 shape of the latter, for it is decidedly thicker and heavier in 

 build, but has the decided advantage of being more easily 

 fattened. The drake has a clear yellow bill, with a slight 



