ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL, 57 
PATAGONIAN DUCK. 
(Catrina moschata-var ). 
Several pairs of a large white Duck, described by the 
dealer as Patagonian Crested Ducks, were offered to me during 
the summer of 1886. Their bodies were white, the long 
feathers of the crest being black; the general build and 
appearance of the bird closely resembled that of the ordinary 
Muscovy, of which they are a variety. The eyes were blue, 
feet yellow, and the upper mandible and face furnished with 
large fleshy caruncles. Mr. Bartlett, late Superintendent of the 
Zoological Gardens, describes them as follows :—“‘They are 
hardy and good breeders, the young are good for the table, but 
I parted with them, as they would not live in the company of 
other waterfowl, being very pugnacious.” The pair which I 
acquired in 1887 proved, however, very tractable, living in peace 
with the Mandarins, Carolinas, and other small breeds. The 
mutual affection of the male and female was very marked, the 
drake erecting the black feathers of his crest, spreading the tail 
like a fan, and emitting a series of wheezing sounds somewhat 
similar to the distant panting of a steam tug! The birds were 
strongly impregnated with the odour of musk, which appeared 
to originate in the enormous oil gland, from which they 
continually dressed their feathers. They are extremely strong 
on the wing, and perch with ease, the hind toe being furnished 
with a long, sharp nail. They are usually procurable at from 
1 to £2 the pair. 
Male.—Pure white; flat black crest; blue eyes; bill 
yellow, with large scarlet caruncles at the base. 
Female.—The same, but considerably smaller. 
Young.—Yellowish down. 
Egg.—White; seven to ten in number. April—May. 
Incubation, twenty-eight to thirty days. 
Nest Down.—Pure white. 
