IM THE COMPLETE POULTRY SOOK. , 



yellowish, banded with black ; the lower parts nf aily whitej the wings and tail 

 have black, white, purple and blue in bands, spots and shadings. The plumage 

 of the ducks is not so showy, and from June to September the drake is more 

 plainly attired. 



THB MANDAKIN DTTCK:. 



This duekiJ^jialeriaulata, is a native of China. In plumage it considerably 

 Tesemblea the American Wood duck; but it has, in addition to the flowing erest,, 

 a pecifliar shaped wing, which rises over the back in the form of • a lady's fan, 

 from which it also receives the name of the Fan- winged duck. 



The Mandarin duck is domesticated in China, and attempts have been made 

 to introduce it into America, through the public parks of New York and the 

 Zoological Garden at Fairmount, Philadelphia. 



In disposition it is very timid, and in size about like the Teal. 



THB BOUEN DTTCK. 



The name of this duck is supposed to be a corruption of the word roan, since 

 the origin of the breed has no connection with the city of EiOUen, as its name 

 would indicate, while the word roan, or gray, would well describe its color. The 

 Eouen duck is simply the wild Mallard domesticated, and eulargfed during the 

 process of domestication; the coloring of its plumage being almost identical 

 with that of the Mallard, so : nearly so, in fact, that " the markings of the wild 

 species are considered as the criteria of perfection by the judges and fanciers of 

 the present day,"* while the interbreeding of the Eouen and the MaUard has no 

 effect upon the markings- of the former, and its size returns after the third or 

 fourth cross. 



Eouen ducks have, like Toulouse geese, an abdominal protuberance, whioh 

 sometimes becomes so developed in over-fat specimens as to drag upon the ground, 

 to the detriment of the feathers. 



They are very hardy, dull and lethargic in their movements, caring little for 

 water except to drink. They reach a large size, weighing eighteen to nineteen 

 pounds to the pair. As egg producers they are exceUent, laying a large number 

 of large, thick-shelled eggs, which shotdd average three ounces and a liaU in 

 weight. (See iUnstration, page 173.) 



THE AYLESBURY DUCK. 



This is a large breed, weighing seventeen to eighteen pounds to the pair; in 

 color both sexes are pure white, with broad, pale flesh-colored bills, which should 

 not show any dark marks or stains. 



Aylesburya, if well fed, are good layers; the eggs laid by the best strains be- 

 ing pure white. They are inclined to become over-fat, in which condition both 

 sexes are sterile. 



These ducks are largely reared and fattened for the London markets by the 

 tamers of the neighborhood of Aylesbuiy ; being sent to market, when p roperly 



*Tegetmeler. 



