The Pckin. 1 39 



greenish tinge, and in shape, long and broad. The head is 

 rich green, glossed with purple, which extends down the 

 neck, where there is a ring of pure white. The breast is a rich 

 deep claret brown, and the under parts are a delicate French 

 grey. The back is a rich greenish black, and the curls in the 

 drake's tail are dark green. The wings are greyish brown, 

 and have a ribbon mark across them, this being of a bright 

 and distinct blue, with a white edge on each side. The flights 

 are grey and brown, and the legs orange. The duck has a 

 brown head, with two distinct shaded lines on each side. 

 The breast is brown, pencilled over with a darker shade of 

 the same colour, and the wing has a ribbon mark like that 

 of the drake. The weight of these birds is about six t<» 

 eight pounds, and the heaviest pair at Birmingham show 

 in l(?Si\ was over twenty-one pounds, but once this has been 

 exceeded by nearly two pounds. The Eouens grow to a 

 greater size than the Aylesbury, but take a considerably 

 longer time about it, and on this account are not so profit- 

 able for market purposes. We therefore regard the Ayles- 

 bury as being the better of the two, for a Rouen duckling at 

 eight weeks is no larger than an Aylesbury at six weeks. 

 They are, however, equally as hardy and as prolific, though 

 their eggs are not quite so large ; are as easily reared, and 

 have one decided advantage, namely, that as their plumage 

 is dark, they do not show dirt So soon, and consequently 

 suit places where the white-feathered birds would always 

 look filthy. 



The Pekin. — The Pekin is a recent introduction, and, as 

 the name implies, is 1 native of the Celestial Empire. It 

 was first heard of in 1ST3, when specimens were imported 

 into the United States, and they were hailed with great 

 eagerness. Soon afterwards a few were imported into Eng- 

 land, and, from their large size, splendid laying powers, 

 great hardiness, and striking appearance, soon won favour, 



