132 BIRDS 



water, and that provided for drinking must be in a shallow 

 receptacle. Young ducks are easily soaked, often with 

 fatal results. 



Their first food may be boiled egg and biscuit crumbs, 

 dampened. It is also advisable to float ants' cocoons and 

 duckweed on the water. The young of many species do not 

 readily learn to feed and it is here that the greatest difficulty 

 lies. Slowly moving insects, such as newly hatched or 

 drenched flies, will often attract the ducklings' attention 

 and form the first meal. 



When the young birds are feeding well, they may be 

 given one of the standard duck meals or the mixture recom- 

 mended for pheasants. Boiled egg may be continued for 

 a time, and green food, preferably duckweed, furnished 

 liberally. Earthworms are an excellent food for all duck- 

 lings large enough to eat them. 



As the youngsters progress, small grain should be intro- 

 duced gradually into their diet. When six or eight weeks 

 old, they may be allowed to enter the water and may be 

 considered out of danger. 



Dampness and hot sun are fatal to ducklings, as well as 

 pheasants, and must be avoided. 



When the young birds are about one week old, the last 

 joint of one wing, just beyond the thumb, should be re- 

 moved with a sharp pair of scissors. As the wing is still 

 cartilaginous, there is no resistance and no bleeding. It is 

 therefore not necessary to make a ligature, but it is well to 

 apply a bit of antiseptic powder, such as iodoform or 

 xeroform. This will prevent infection and blowing by 

 flies — a not uncommon trouble. 



Of the many species of wild ducks commonly kept in 

 confinement the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most 

 abundant. Its ready acceptance of captivity led to its domes- 

 tication at a very remote period, and the many domestic 



