DUCKS AND THEIR VARIETIES 143 



and white and pure white. In England they also have the black and 

 white, the brown and white and the pure white. 



The pure white ducks are meeting with great favor in this coun- 

 try and are becoming very popular and are said to be as good lay- 

 ers as the fawn and white. 



The Rouen 



The Rouen duck, so named for a city in Normandy, where they 

 are supposed to have originated, are still bred there in large num- 

 bers. The Rouen duck is a fine market bird, but does not mature 

 as early as the Pekin or Aylesbury. It is easily fattened, hardy and 

 quiet in disposition and not as nervous as the Pekin. 



The Rouen drake is a magnificently colored bird. Neck and head 

 are iridescent green, breast wine color and the lower part of the 

 body delicate steel gray, penciled with very fine black lines. About 

 June a remarkable change takes place in the drake. He begins to 

 lose his lustrous feathers, those of the neck dropping out, being re- 

 placed by feathers of a russet brown. The magnificently colored 

 drake is clothed in sober hues for the summer. In October he 

 again resumes his gorgeous raiment. 



The Buff Orpington 



Buff Orpington ducks are a breed of Mr. William Cook's mak- 

 ing. He named them as he did the Orpington hens, after his own 

 place in Kent, England. The color of the Buff Orpingtons is a soft 

 shade of buff, the drakes having rich brown heads. The Buff Or- 

 pington has a good deal of the Indian Runner blood in it, and from 

 this source its laying qualities are gathered. Mr. Cook claims they 

 are better layers than any other of the duck family. Many of them 

 lay a beautiful green egg, although a greenish-white is the usual 

 color. These ducks weigh a pound a half more than the Indian 

 Runner, are large and more plump birds, maturing early, and one 

 of the best market birds. 



The Muscovy 



The Muscovy duck is not largely bred in this country. They 

 are not like any other ducks and do not interbreed with others. 

 It is a native of South America, where it may still be found in its 

 wild state. It comes in two varieties, white and black and white. 

 The males are much larger than the females. I had one weighing 

 fourteen pounds. Both sexes have caruncles at the base of the 

 beak; these become larger every year, giving them a vulture-like 

 appearance. Muscovy ducks are rather awkward in the water, pre- 

 ferring to live on the land. They are pugnacious and ill-tempered, 

 and, although they have web feet, they have very sharp claws that 

 can, and do, scratch in a most unpleasant way. They are strong 

 on the wing, flying easily over the barn, and they like to perch on 

 the roof. They are good setters, and their eggs take thirty-five 

 days to incubate. 



