CHAPTER XXVIIL 



WILD DUCK : Introduction. Rearing. Maintenance. 

 Protection. 



THE rearing and maintenance of wild duck upon any 

 ordinary preserves where the conditions obtaining are 

 favourable to so doing is becoming so general that no 

 apology is required for introducing the subject as a portion 

 of the practice of the modern game-preserver. I do not, 

 however, intend to deal with it except as subsidiary to 

 game-preserving proper, as the control and management of 

 great wildfowl preserves, decoys, and the like are matters 

 beyond the scope of the present work. 



The gradual but steady annual decline in the number of 

 wild duck frequenting almost all of the practically number- 

 less places that possess attractions for these waterfowl has 

 led of late years to the adoption of the practice of rearing 

 them under somewhat artificial conditions. In such 

 places, and upon estates that offer sufficient expanse of 

 waters and ground where wild duck chiefly delight to 

 congregate, there is very little difficulty either in establish- 

 ing them or in retaining them after they are established. 

 When, however, the expanse of water or limit of water- 

 ways, with adjoining characteristic land, is limited, then 

 the semi-artificial conditions under which wild duck must 

 be raised and managed add considerably to the difficul- 

 ties. As a rule, however, such difficulties are easily over- 

 come, and under careful and considerate treatment wild 



