196 TSE COMPLETE POULTMY BOOK. 



possible. Both dueks and drakes have a greenish tinge abouttne I'f d-this b^ 

 ing brighter in the drake, and both show » slight tendency toward a brownish 



*'X'caynga"^ev«y hardy, nea.*ya« large a« the Kouens (weighing sixteen 

 to seventeen pounds to the pair), good layers, and easily fattened, ihey are very 

 quiet In their habits, and a fence a foot high will turn them. They commence 

 laying by the end of March, and lay fifty to ninety eggs before desiring to sit. 

 They are good sitters, but careless mothers, hens being for these, as for most 

 other ducklings, the best mothers. (See illustration, page 181.) 



THE PEKIN DUCK. 



This, the largest of all known breeds of ducks, was^rst imported from Pekin, 

 China, by Mr. James E. Palmer, of Stonington, Connecticut, andlanded in New 

 York on the 14th day of March, 1873. 



In color the Pekins are clear white, with a faint yeUowish tinge to the lower 

 feathers, which are very thick and downy. The wings are short, hence the birds 

 are easUy confined. They are very hardy, and care little for water except for 

 drinking. They are exceptionally" large layers, the pair first importei^ing 

 over one hundred and twenty-five eggs each, during the first season, fPiwith- 

 standing the exhaustion attendant upon their importation, which was fatal to 

 the larger part of the lot originally shipped from Pekin, while during the next 

 season one of this same pair laid one hundred and eighty-seven eggs, and the 



other nearly as many, and one of the early hatched ducklings began laying in 



August. 

 The recurved feather in the tail of the drake is, in addition to the difference 



in voice— that of the duck being much coarser— the distinguishing mark of the 



sexes, and also shows that the Pekin belongs to the Mallard family of ducks. 

 A second importation of these ducks has been made by Mr. Palmer, by which 



it is hoped to stop the deterioration of this fine breed through in-breeding. Only 



judicious crossing, combined with intelligent selection, will^maintain its present 



superiority. (See iUnstration, page 187.) 



THE CEESTED WHITE DTJCK. 



This variety is remarkable for the large tuft of feathers on top of the head, re- 

 sembling the crest of Polish fowls. In some cases this crest attains a diameter 

 of three inches. 



THE HOOKED-BILL DUCK. 



This is an old breed, described as early as 1676, and frequently delineated by 

 the old Dutch masters. Its characteristic is a turning down of the bill. 



THE PENGUIN DUCK. 



This breed is characterized by greater length of the upper bones of the leg, 

 which causes it to assume a half-erect attitude, somewhat resembling that of the 

 Penguin. 



These breeds are but variations of the ordinary duck, which have been per- 

 petuated by the care of man. 



