THE CAYUGA BI^ACK: DUCK. 1»« 



managed, at eight to ten weeks- of age. By careful feeding they may be induced 

 to begin laying by Christmas, when their eggs are set under hens, and the duck- 

 lings kept rapidly growing until ready for market. 



M0SCOVY DUCKS; 



Muscovy duoks are of two varieties — tlie white and the ooloreJ ; the former 

 being pure white, the latter blue-blaok, more or less broken with white feathers. 

 The name Musoovy is a corruption of the term musk, this term referring to the 

 musk-like odor of the skin, which odor is dissipated, however, in cooking. 

 These duoks exist in the wild state in South America, belonging to the genus 

 Cmniia, previously referred to, and are also domesticated there to a considerable 

 extent. 



The drake weighs ten to eleven pounds, and differs from the drakes of Mallard 

 origin in having a large head, and bare, scarlet-colored cheeks, the base of the 

 bill being carunculated with the same color; in the feathers at the back of the 

 head being re-curved, as if paving been rubbed the wrong way; and in the long, 

 straight-feathered tail. 



The duck is much smaller than the drake, weighing but five to seven pounds. 

 .They have the same bare head of the drakes, but in other respects differ less 

 from ordinary ducks. 



Muscovies are capable of sustaining themselves for a lon^ time in flight, hence 

 they are difficult to confine ; while the drakes are extremely quarrelsome, being 

 as ugly in disposition as in appearance. The ducks are but moderate layers, 

 and their flesh is only palatable when young, so that they are not a desirable 

 breed to cultivate, under ordinary circumstances. (See illustration, page 177.) 



THE CURI.-CRESTBD DALMATION DUCK. 



This duck is descended from the Musoovy, through one parent at least, and is 

 distinguished by a crest of intensely black, curled feathers. It also has the 

 - naked cheeks, the difference in size between the sexes, and the long tail, desti- 

 tute of curled feathers of the Muscovy ; while it is more quiet in disposition, and 

 fonderof foraging in the water, a better layer, and more easily fattened than 

 that breed. 



These ducks are reared in large numbers iii Dalmatia and the adjacent islands 

 of the Adriatic, but have not yet been introduced into this country. 



THE CAYUGA BLACK DUCK. 



This fine breed is American, and is supposed to have originated in the neigh- 

 borhood of Cayuga Lake, New York, by a cross between the wild black, or 

 Buenos Ayres duck, and the Mallard. This supposition may, or may not be cor- 

 rect, as the breed has been cultivated many years, and aU definite trace of its 

 origin is lost. 



The characteristic markings of the Cayuga duck are a black color throughout, 

 except a narrow white collar around the neck, and white flecks in the breast, 

 which latter tend to increase with age, and are avoided by breeders as ranch as 



