BREEDS AND VARIETIES 



color better than do the ducks. Where the white 

 mottling occurs in plumage with age one need not 

 hesitate to breed from these birds if they were of 

 good black color as young birds. The drakes of the 

 best color do not as a rule fade or become mottled to 

 any great extent with age. It is necessary to guard 

 against birds as breeders which have a rusty brown 

 lacing on the breast and under the wings, also those 

 which have a wing-bow laced with brown. There 

 is a tendency for the bill of drakes, which should 

 be black, to be too light or olive in color and this 

 tendency increases with age. Drakes with bills of 

 this color should be avoided as breeders. When 

 Cayugas are first hatched the baby ducks all show 

 a white breast. 



The Call. The Call ducks are the bantams of the 

 duck race. There is always a tendency for them to 

 grow too large and this is especially true when they 

 have an opportunity to eat all they want as for ex- 

 ample when they are fed with the larger ducks. 

 They should not be fed too liberally and should be 

 given wheat or some other solid grain rather than 

 any mash. If there is a good pond of water to which 

 the Call ducks can have access they do not need to 

 be fed much of anything. 



In breeding, the smallest individuals which are 

 suitable in other respects for breeders, should be 

 selected in order to keep down the size and oifset 

 the tendency to breed larger in successive genera- 

 tions. In type the Calls are practically miniature 



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