286 Second Annual Report of the 



process is very simple, easily performed, and almost invariably 

 successful. A careful study of the accompanying illustrations will 

 make detailed explanations unnecessary. The ninth and tenth 

 primary wing feathers, counting from the outside, should be re- 

 moved, together with their " coverts," and the small feather 3 

 which clothe the wing at the point of insertion of the primaries. 

 A tight ligature of stout, uncolored twine should then be tied 

 about the wing, as close as possible to the junction with the thumb 

 or bastard wing, on the side toward the tip. The ligature must 

 be tight, a good knot for the purpose being shown in the illustra- 

 tion. The skin over the bone is severed, and the bone is then cut 

 through, cleanly and evenly, at a point about a quarter of an inch 

 beyond the ligature. The best instrument for this purpose is a 

 strong pair of gardener's pruning shears, costing 75 cents. After 

 the operation the bird may be returned to the water at once. If 

 the operation has been properly performed, small loss of blood 

 and none of life is to be feared. 



FOOD. 



The birds should be fed once or twice daily on a mixture of 

 wheat, buckwheat and barley, a little cracked corn being added 

 during cold weather. Any soft food is eaten greedily, but there is 

 no advantage to be gained by feeding it to healthy birds. Green 

 food, also, should be given, as described above. 



During the winter months, no shelter is required unless the 

 weather be exceedingly severe. If the number of ducks is fairly 

 large, they will keep open a place in the ice by their constant 

 swimming; but if they fail to do this, the ice must be cut for them. 

 It is open water that enables waterfowl to keep their feet from 

 freezing. If the temperature is very low, or the flock small, it will 

 be necessary to open a hole in the ice at least once daily. It is a 

 simple matter to erect low shelters of brush or straw to break the 

 wind, if needed ; but no houses of any kind are necessary. 



If the duck yard is specially exposed to the full sweep of the 

 piercingly cold western and northwestern winds or our northern 

 winter, then it will be well to erect, as a wind screen, a tight 

 board fence six feet in height, along the western side of the duck 

 enclosure. 



