382 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
well cared for, generally commence to lay at ten months old, and to ensure fertility in the eugs, the drakes 
should be in their second year but not older. One peculiarity in this breed is the extreme variations in the 
colour of the eggs laid, ranging from ichitc to a perfect green. There is some difficulty likely to arise in the 
procuring of the Aylesbury as the Pekin has been used extensively for crossing purposes, principally for 
the object of increased size, though at the same time the bills, having a tendency to become yellow by sur- 
rounding conditions, and the great heat of the sun, is no certain guide to their impurity of blood. But, 
however, the colour of the bill is an all important consideration if the birds are intended for exhibition, and 
much pains and trouble are necessary to retain this characteristic trait in perfection. The best plan to secure 
this is to allow the birds but little liberty during the hot portion of the day, providing plenty of clean water 
and gravel for them to rummage amongst, keeping the birds the last fortnight or so before showing in a partly 
darkened pen. In feeding all young ducklings for the first week, bread crumbs and hard-boiled eggs, given 
every two hours, will be all that is required. After this they may be fed liberally four or five times per day 
on pollard and oatmeal, with a little minced meat added, which, if it is practicable, should be mixed with 
milk for preference, this will bring them along nicely for another fortnight, and a feed of grain, such as 
wheat or cracked corn, placed in the troughs overnight, so that they will be able to obtain a feed early in the 
morning. No neglect of providing an ample supply of grit or gravel, and fresh green food, should be over- 
looked ; as once stunted in early growth little good results will be obtained. Worms or grubs are morsels 
relished by all Ducks, and, failing this, animal meat should be given. 
The Rouen Duck is, in plumage, the exact counterpart of the Wild Duck or Mallard, but, owing to its 
habits and surroundings being entirely changed by domestication, is altered considerably in outward 
appearance of form and carriage. This breed run to far greater weights than the pure Aylesbury, a fair 
average being ii lbs. for drakes and lolbs. for ducks, and these weights are often exceeded in show 
specimens, which, however, are, as a rule, abnormally fat. It has not the same advantages as the Aylesbury, 
inasmuch as it is much slower in arriving at maturity, and necessarily breeds later. They are of a very hardy 
constitution, and fatten to a great weight. As before stated, the plumage is identical with that of the 
Mallard, but for purposes of exhibition the breast of the drake must be of a deeper colour. The bill of the 
drake is of a yellowish-green colour, any other colour being highly objectionable, and the bill should come 
straight down from the skull without break, of good length, and broad. The head is a purple-green, this 
colour running down the neck until it meets a broken ring of white ; the latter, however, being broken, does 
not form a complete circle, being incomplete at the back. This ring should be clearly defined on the sides 
of the neck and throat. The breast should be a deep claret-brown colour, extending well down, and as free 
as possible from broken markings, merging into a lovely French grey on the lower part of the belly and 
under-parts, extending to the tail. The back is a rich satiny gre. nish black, the upward curled feathers of the 
tail being a darker green. The wings should be a greyish-brown, with a bright and distinct wing-bar of blue 
across them, edged on each side with a stripe of pure white. The wing feathers should be brown and grey, 
any white in under-part of tail or flight feathers being objectionable. The legs are of a bright orange colour, 
and the appearance of the bird stately and attractive. 
The bill of the duck should be of an orange colour, with a dark stripe extending down two-thirds from 
the head, not, however, touching the sides or point of the bill. This colour varies while the duck is laying, 
often appearing dark brown or black throughout. The head should be brown, with two distinct lines 
on either side, starting from the eye, and extending down the neck some distance. The breast is of a brown 
ground colour, pencilled all over with a darker brown ; the back a brown ground colour, pencilled with very 
dark brown, approaching black. This marking should be very distinct. The wing-bar is similar to the 
drake's, also being edged with white. The same [)eculiarity is noticeable in the colour of the eggs laid by the 
Rouen Ducks as in the Aylesburys, ranging from white to deep green. In mating the Rouens for breeding 
for exhibition, mere size is not of such vital importance as ptrfection in colour markings, and, for show or 
breeding, if the birds excel in the latter particular, and are of fair average size, better results will be obtained 
