Practical Game-Preserving. 246 



ducks by hand is to make sure that the eggs are really 

 the produce of wild ducks of pure strain, and not of those 

 possessing any taint of tame blood, because if the latter 

 be the case the offspring will not rise in flight properly, 

 and possibly be loth to take flight at all. Of course, if 

 the ducks are merely intended for an ornamental water, or 

 anything of that kind, this does not greatly signify; 

 but where they are desired, wholly or partly, for sport, 

 it is a very necessary consideration. 



When the supply of eggs for hand-rearing purposes is 

 obtained by picking up a few nests of actually wild birds 

 this possibility does not occur; but when the eggs are 

 obtained from a game-farm or other similar source, it is 

 advisable, in order to ensure having eggs of undoubtedly 

 wild birds, to inspect the stock before purchasing. The 

 difference between the pure wild duck and crossed birds 

 is quite apparent to even the unpractised eye. The former 

 are much more neatly built, trimmer, and more active 

 birds than the latter, which always exhibit more or less of 

 that clumsiness of build and movement that differentiate 

 tame ducks from wild ones. A difference, too, is dis- 

 cernible in the eggs, those from ducks crossed with tame 

 ones usually running larger, and not possessing the attrac- 

 tive green colouring found on those of true wild ducks. 



Upon the point of the fertility of purchased wild duck 

 eggs it is only necessary to remark that, as a rule, when 

 secured from a trustworthy source, there is little or no 

 complaint to be made on this score. Of course, where it 

 is proposed to continue the rearing of wild duck from 

 year to year, a certain number of ducks can be retained for 

 laying purposes, and a sufficiency of eggs provided without 

 recourse to outside sources of supply. 



The eggs, which should be available from the middle 

 of March, must be hatched out under foster-hens or in 



