parent whiteness not seen, so far as I know, in any otlier eggs 

 oflfered for table use in the regular markets. They should ave- 

 rage three ounces, when the birds are well kept and matured. 

 And, they are superior to hens' eggs for nearly all sorts of 

 cooking. 



Calling attention again to the fact that the ducks in the 

 Australian competition — vide Mr. Dunnicliffe's letter — were Eng- 

 lish Standard-bred Indian Runners, I will note a few statements 

 that have been made as to laying capacity of the Indian Runners 

 — the English Indian Runners, I mean. For, I do not think 

 there is a certified record published for the American- type. A 

 large proportion of all the figures given have come from across 

 the water. One big record came from New Zealand. I have 

 several official records made in public work; also, one, made by 

 English bred ducks of an American breeder; one, made in Eng- 

 land by Mr. Thomlinson's ducks. The last-named record is 180, 

 made in 1884. Mr. Thomlinson states that he has had a few 

 exceed this in later years. The half-Walton's have a genuine 

 record of above 300, made on a northern American farm. The 

 Australian Competition, a public, official record from birds 

 bandied at an Agricultural College, was for three successive 

 years reported as an average of 300-317 without meat, and 

 last made by two pens. Also, from one pen, 199 in ten months. 

 Private claims, for which, so far as I know, no proof is 

 shown, run winningly from 204 and 309 to 340, 360, 380 and 

 388. Several breeders claim ducks having a record above 300; 

 one states that his birds lay all winter, and one refers modestly 

 to one of his ducks with a record of 300 eggs in nine and one- 

 half months. This is only 31 a month ; many Runners are fully 

 equal to this, during the favorable months. The rub is to get 

 it during December and the moulting period. The 388 record 

 hails from England, and I do not know that proofs have been 

 given as to its authenticity. 



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