ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 7 
mason, the water supply being provided, either by conducting 
a stream through iron pipes, or by conveying rain water from 
the gutters of a neighbouring building. In my own case this 
latter method is the plan adopted for furnishing the small basin 
attached to the shed which constitutes the winter quarters 
of my fancy ducks. 
To return to the pond before described. I will give for 
the benefit of my readers some interesting notes on the subject 
of housing ducks, with which I have been favoured by Mr. 
William Jamrach. 
‘© Besides wooden houses built in the water, you should have drain 
pipes and large earthenware jars (mouths towards the water) placed all 
round the edge of the pond or moat, these should be placed about two 
inches above the watermark (supposing the water always remaining at same 
height), in which some varieties of ducks will form their nests. The houses 
should be placed on stakes, these must be well driven in, small steps 
leading up to the entrance ; these houses must be fixed about six inches 
above water so that the birds can see inside, after a time they will enter, 
when accustomed to surroundings, noises, &c., &c. 
‘No bird likes to go into a hole of any kind. It is at the breeding 
season in spring that they look about for enclosures of this kind, otherwise 
they prefer the open, night and day. 
‘* Foxes will certainly try and get at the birds ; this must be guarded 
against by high wirework, as the habit of all Waterfowl is to remain in 
the middle of the pond during the night, when one of them is always on 
sentry to give alarm.” 
If the piece of water is sufficiently large to admit of it, a 
small island is a great improvement to its appearance, besides 
being a source of endless delight to the birds. A couple of 
empty casks rendered watertight and carefully bunged, may 
be nailed together with planks laid across them, after the 
manner of a raft, upon which pieces of bark, willow chumps, 
and turf, should be arranged until the whole fabric sinks to 
the proper level. The willow twigs, if there be any on the 
stump, will shoot, and form a pretty little shelter for the shyer 
varieties of birds which will sleep on the island, and if 
