204 THE TAME DUCK. 



ber of eggs without their nest being discovered, they 

 will hatch them, and not make their appearance till 

 they bring their young family home to the yard, ex- 

 cept in raw, cold weather. As ducks usually lay either 

 at night, or very early in the morning, it is a good 

 way to secure their eggs, to confine them during the 

 period when they must lay, a circumstance easily as- 

 certained by feeling the vent. 



It will accordingly be requisite at the approach of 

 the laying season, in spring, to give them food in a 

 .particular place three or four times a-day, to prevent 

 them from wandering, and when once they can be 

 got to lay in a nest prepared for them, they will prob- 

 ably continue* to do so, without laying elsewhere. 



The eggs of the duck are.readily known from those 

 of the common fowl by their bluish color and larger 

 size, the shell being smoother, not so thick, and with 

 much fewer pores. When boiled, the white is never 

 curdy like that of a new-laid hen's egg, but transpa- 

 rent and glassy, while the yolk is much darker in 

 color. The flavor is by no means so delicate. For 

 omelets, however, as well as for puddings and pastry, 

 duck eggs are much better than hens' eggs, giving a 

 finer color and flavor, and requiring less butter. 



INCUBATION. 



The tame duck is not naturally disposed to incubate, 

 but in order to induce her to do so, towards the end of 

 laying, two or three other eggs may be left in each 

 nest, taking care every morning to take away the 

 oldest laid, that they may not be spoiled. From eight 

 to ten eggs may be given, according to the size of the 

 duck, and her ability to cover them, taking particular 

 care not to sprinkle them with cold water, as some 

 authors wrongly advise. This precaution, at the best, 

 is superfluous, if it be not hurtful. The duck requires 

 some care when she sits ; for as she cannot go to her 

 food, attention must be paid to place it before her ; 

 and she will be content w'th it, whatever be its qual- 



