INTRODUCTION 39 



they fall into a very different class, and although there are some successful fanciers 

 who rear many in England, Holland, and Germany, the breeding of them save by an 

 expert is certainly exceptional. In this group which reproduce with difficulty we 

 might place the Gadwall, the three Widgeons, the Green-winged and Formosan 

 Teals, and the Brazilian and Ring-necked Teals. The Bahama or Red-billed Ducks 

 reproduce somewhat more easily. It should be added that when a hand-reared stock 

 of any species has once been established, the problem of getting ducks to breed is 

 very much reduced. 



Among the diving ducks the European Pochard has been most frequently bred, 

 but our Red-head only a few times. The Canvas-back has reproduced only two or 

 three times, although no especial difficulty has been experienced in rearing them 

 from eggs gathered in the wild. The Scaups have never laid eggs in artificial sur- 

 roundings. 



The Eiders and Golden-eyes have laid eggs very rarely under conditions of expert 

 care, and the Scoters and Mergansers not at all. The Spiny-tailed, or Ruddy Duck 

 family do not bear captivity. 



Many interesting observations have been made upon pinioned ducks in enclosed 

 ponds, but birds under these conditions do not by any means act as they would in 

 the wild. For instance, the diving ducks do not moult so promptly or completely, 

 and seldom go into a perfect eclipse. Display, also, may not be carried out so ac- 

 tively, and there is a tendency for perverted traits to appear, which result in an 

 indiscriminate crossing of widely different species. In fact, so common is crossing in 

 captive ducks that it is sometimes easier to get hybrids from the mixed population 

 of a pond than to get the pure strains. Hybrids in the wild state are, however, very 

 rare, and it is extremely doubtful whether any new species have arisen in this way. 

 The only really common mixtures are between Mallards and Black Ducks, and I 

 believe that most of these may be the result of wild Black Ducks mating with semi- 

 wild "call" Mallards, or "puddle-ducks" of various types. 



During the period when the French Societe d'Acclimatation was most active — that 

 is, some fifty years ago — tremendous efforts were made to naturalize, and if possible 

 domesticate, new birds, both for their use and their beauty, but the practical results 

 were negative. After great expenditure of time and money no species of anatine bird 

 except the Gray Goose, Mallard, and Muscovy has been shown in any way suscepti- 

 ble of true domestication, with the possible exception of the Egyptian Goose and the 

 Canada Goose. 



It is always interesting, I think, to record the experience of an individual, where, 

 as in aviculture, one gets such different and conflicting results. Before listing those 

 species which have reproduced on my farm at Wenham, Massachusetts, I should say 

 that I have never had adequate ponds for my birds, and seldom any natural flow of 

 water after the first of July, so that conditions have not been favorable. Particular 



