ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL, 139 
Young.—Clear primrose colour in down; yellow legs ; 
pink bill. 
Egg.—White or greenish, very numerous. Incubation, 
twenty-seven to twenty-eight days. 
ROUEN DUCK. 
(Anas boscas var). 
The origin of the name ‘“ Rouen Duck” is doubtful, some 
concluding that it is derived from “roan” duck, others stating 
that the town of Rouen in Normandy is the birthplace of the 
breed ; be this as it may, the duck pies and duck ragofits 
served in Rouen confer distinction on the bird which furnishes 
them. The Rouen Duck is almost exactly similar to the female 
of the Mallard, but the size is nearly three times as great. Like 
the Aylesbury, it is a favourite at poultry shows, where there are 
usually large entries of this beautiful breed. For table, again 
they are excellent, although not so precocious or fattening so 
readily as the Aylesbury Duck, Like the Mallard, the Rouen 
drake undergoes a periodical change of plumage, and for three 
months in the year assumes an almost feminine garb. 
Male.—Head and neck brilliant lustrous green, a white 
ring at lower part, not meeting at the back ; back metallic 
greenish-black ; curl-feathers of tail black ; tail greyish-brown, 
edged with white; vent velvet-black; abdomen pale-grey ; 
sides grey, finely pencilled ; breast rich brownish-claret colour ; 
wings brown, free from white ; wing-bar lustrous-blue, between 
two white lines ; legs and feet orange ; bill long and broad, 
straight like that of the Aylesbury, yellowish-green, with black 
tip. 
Female.—Head and neck creamy-brown, distinctly 
pencilled ; throat and remainder of plumage brown; every 
