384 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
Of the wild varieties, the Canvas Back Duck stands foremost, and is found in Greenland, Iceland, 
Lapland, Siberia, and Canada right through to the winter months, then it annually takes its flight south- 
wards as far as the Isthmus of Panama, India and Egypt. This Canvas Back Duck is considered by epicures 
to be the largest, handsomest, and most savoury of wild Ducks in the world, and has a flavour peculiarly its 
own, that of celery. They are a very large, brown-headed grey-backed bird, from which latter characteristic 
marking they take their name. The regular breeding place of the Canvas Back Duck is the head-waters of 
Chesapeake Bay in Canada. The birds flock there in millions yearly to feast on the vast beds of wild celery, 
growing on the flats below the mouth of the Susquehanna River, which, strangely enough, grows there and 
there only in abundance. Many attempts have been made to cultivate this plant elsewhere, but up to date 
none have been successful. Owing to the great demand thousands of their eggs are marketed and 
thousands of the birds are shot annually, and of late years their numbers are greatly diminished, so that 
probably within the next fifty years will see the extermination of the finest wild Fowl in the world, and one 
of the most prized delicacies of the table. 
The Musk or Muscovy Duck is, without doubt, quite a distinct species from any of the domesti- 
cated races, and though it will breed freely with all of the varieties, the mules thus bred and mated together 
are quite unfertile. The chief point in favour of crossing the Musk Duck with others is to obtain large and 
quickly maturing birds, though they must be killed when young, as the flesh is inclined to become gross and 
coarse with age. This breed is found wild only in the warmer locations of South America, and in Brazil it 
is domesticated and cultivated to a great extent, being also domesticated throughout Europe and Australia. 
The name is probably derived from the odour emitted by the skin previous to cooking, which, however, is 
not noticeable when the latter operation is performed. In the wild state the Musk Duck is of very active 
habits, flying up into the trees when startled — often roosting on the branches all night. Their nests are 
frequently found built between the branches of the trees, and at other times in a hollow near the water. 
The greatest objection to the Musk Duck is the combative nature of the Drakes, who will fight to the death 
with almost any variety of Poultry. The general colour of the Musk Duck is a patchy black and white 
irregular marking ; but they are also found of a dun colour, pure black, and pure white. They differ in head 
pomts considerably from other Ducks ; the head being rather long, and in the Drake large ; the top of the 
head being covered with long crest-like feathers, which are readily elevated or depressed by the bird when it 
becomes excited or alarmed. The base of the bill, cheeks and eyes being surrounded with fleshy caruncu- 
lated protuberances, the Drake especially showing this development. The difference in the size of the 
sexes is most marked, the Drake often reaching thirteen pounds in weight, the Duck, however, rarely exceed- 
ing eight pounds. The Ducks are poor layers, but excellent sitters and mothers, mostly making their nests 
in a hollow under the bushes. The nest is composed wholly of feathers plucked from her own body. Wet 
weather has little or no effect on their hatching, though the nest is often made in a most exposed position ; 
but the Drake must be kept away from the young Ducklings or he will often kill and eat them. The main 
point in favour of the Musk Duck rests on their value for crossing, and many farmers in this country breed 
them for this purpose. 
Call Ducks are so named from the peculiar "call " or shrill note they utter. They are found in two 
varieties named White and Crey, being somewhat similar to the Aylesbury and Rouen respectively, though 
much smaller. 
The Indian Runner Duck. — We are indebted for the following notes on this httle known variety in 
this country to the kindness of Mr Harold Cadell, of " Wotonga," Beecroft, N.S.W. "This gentleman states 
that the Indian Runner Duck was first introduced to Australia in May, 1896, and comprised two trios shipped to 
the "Wotonga" yards by Messrs. Brandford and Cadell, of Woodbridge, England. As the name indicates they 
originated in India, and were first taken to England by a Sea Captain, who presented a pair to a friend living 
in Cumberland, England, and another pair were procured later, and from these four birds the present day 
Ducks are descended. This was about 60 years ago, and this variety have been bred pure in Cumberland 
