DUCKS AND GEESE 



the wing are valuable breeders since there is a tend- 

 ency for too much white to occur in the plumage. 

 Occasionally all black birds occur and these can be 

 used to advantage in breeding when there is a tend- 

 ency toward too much white in plumage. Plumage 

 more than half white is a disqualification. The dark 

 plumage birds such as are wanted are very likely to 

 show considerable black or gypsy color in the face 

 which should be a good red. This must be selected 

 against insofar as possible. The nearly black or the 

 darkest birds are quite likely to show some white or 

 grizzling on the head. Grizzled or brownish pen- 

 ciled feathers sometimes occur in various parts of 

 the plumage and must of course be guarded against 

 as the markings should be distinctly black and 

 white. The baby ducks of this variety are quite apt 

 to show considerable white although the best of 

 them come yellowish black. This variety tends to 

 run a little larger in size than the white variety 

 although the standard weights are the same for 

 both. Dun or chocolate colored ducks sometimes 

 come from Colored Muscovies while Blue Muscovies 

 can be produced by crossing the Colored and the 

 white varieties. 



The White Muscovy. This variety should have 

 pure white plumage throughout. Young Muscovies 

 of both sexes often have a patch of black on top of 

 the head up to the time they moult at maturity. 

 Since black disqualifies it is impossible to show 

 young ducks in this condition but these black f eath- 



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