DUCKS. 



183 



this must be attributed to the absence of dry- 

 straw, or the presence of too deep water. 



Fig. 8. 



When fully grown, ducks should be fed only 

 twice a-day, on soft food and any kind of grain, 

 always in water; in their wanderings, they pick 

 up a great deal very much to their taste; they 

 begin to lay regularly in February, often at 

 Christmas, and continue many months. 



The eggs of the Eouen are large, and of 

 a greenish-blue tint; a drake should not be 

 allowed more than four females, or many of the 

 eggs will prove unfertile. 



The wild drake is monogamous, and there is 

 no doubt, to it, our domestic Eouen breed owes 



