BREEDS AND VARIETIES 



In fact, it is considered a pretty good proportion if 

 one half of the ducks hatched have crests although 

 the matings vary considerably in this, occasionally 

 one producing practically 100% of the offspring 

 with crests. Avoid as breeders birds with small 

 crests, lopped crests, split crests or showing an ab- 

 sence of crest. Avoid also breeders showing mot- 

 tled or green bills in females and black bean in the 

 bill of drakes. 



The Buff. In type this breed is similar to the 

 Swedish. As will be seen from the standard weights 

 it is one of the medium sized breeds and makes a 

 very nice market bird as it dresses out into a nice 

 round fat carcass and is a good layer. In color the 

 birds of both sexes should be as uniform a buff as 

 possible except that the head and upper part of the 

 neck in the drake should be seal brown when in full 

 plumage. Color defects which are likely to be en- 

 countered and which should be avoided are the 

 tendency for the head of the drake to run to a chest- 

 nut color and for his neck to be too light or faded 

 out in color. Sometimes the head of the drake runs 

 too dark in color approaching a greenish black like 

 the head of the Rouen. This is of course undesir- 

 able. The wings of both sexes are apt to run to light 

 or even in some cases, pure white flights. Blue wing 

 bars are sometimes shown and these must be care- 

 fully avoided. Penciling such as is found in the 

 Fawn and White Runner sometimes occurs and since 

 it is a serious defect must be rigidly guarded against. 



35 



