THE GALLINACEOUS TRIBES 



243 



Indian Ruxxer Ducks (Male and Fk.mali:) 



with animal food, whicli is essential to their 

 growth. The breeder puts on big wooden 

 shoes and proceeds to kick up the earth in the 

 field in order to force out the worms which 

 form the animal food of the ducklings. It is 

 very comical to those who are present 

 at this performance for the 

 first time to see these men 

 hopping about their fields. 

 Most of the young ducks, 

 as we have alread)' said, are 

 not kept longer than twelve 

 weeks, because after that time it is diffi- 

 cult to sell them on account of the new 

 feathers which then begin to grow. To have 

 well-fertilized eggs from the old ducks not more 

 than six or eight should be given to one drake. 

 They must also have sufficient water within 

 reach, either flowing naturally through the 

 field or in artificial ponds. 



In America we have special establishments 

 for the raising of ducks, many of which raise 

 twent)' thousand )'early. For this it is neces- 

 *sary to have great knowledge and experience, 

 and also a large capital. Most duck-raising 

 establishments are provided with a natural flow 

 of water, and have coops or shelters accom- 

 modating from forty to fifty birds. As these 

 establishments are of great extent many of 

 them are furnished, for convenience, with little 

 railways built four or five feet above, the soil, 

 which cause an enormous saving of time and 



Si'i-;i':n ! 



trouble in the distribution of food. As yet 

 Europe has no such establishments as ours. 

 She will dinibtless ha\'e theni some day when 

 her attention is called to them and she makes 

 a special study of their ad\'antages. 



It is easier to raise ducks tlian fowls, ]:)ro- 

 vided the breedei' has suflicient space at his 

 command. The}' gi\'e less ti-ouljje and aix- al- 

 m(«t t'omplelely I ree I rom disease. Those most 

 frequently met witli are the Koiicn thick, a 

 ]ir(>duct ot h'rench bi'eeders, which ma)-, b\' 

 good right, be considered one ol the \'er)' best 

 species. They arc often admired in their lull 

 beauty at poultry shows, to which they are sent 

 in large numbers. The)' are not onl)' beautiful 

 birds but also fine ]a)'ers, and the same ma)' be 

 said of another French duck, the Tuuloiise. 



Good ducks are found in Belgium, where they 

 are taking pains to make their national breeds 

 famous. In England the duck piv cxcclhiiic 

 is the Aylesbury, which has made itself iamous 

 for its good qualities. It is very 

 hardy, grows ver)' fast, and 

 lays many eggs. There is 

 no poultry show in any 

 countr)' where it will not 

 be seen, and the impression 

 it makes is most agreeable, with 

 its white plumage, red beak, and yel- 

 low legs. The Pekiii duck, which the 

 uninitiated can seldom distinguish from the 

 Aylesbur)' duck, has also made itself a reputa- 

 tion for its excellence ; as far as popularit)' is 

 concerned it undoubtedly occupies a foremost 



Muscovy Ducks (Male and Female) 



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