146 
British Diving Ducks 
thait every preserver catches consist largely of the mig-rants from countries beyond the seas, which are 
forced to leave their breeding haunts when snow and frost seal up the means of existence. Wild-fowlers 
on the coast complain of the ever-diminishing supplies. This may be true of some of the wilder species, 
but it is absolutely certain that Mallard were never so plentiful as at the present time. The difference is 
that preservers know better than to allow them to go foraging for food, and so fall a prey to the punt- 
gunner. Ducks do wander, and will ever continue to make their nightly excursions to the stubbles, and 
to every pond into which food is thrown, and which constitute safe feeding grounds where harm seldom 
befalls them, , . 1- . . 
" This year practically all the purveyors of wild ducks' eggs received siich plentiful orders that 
they ran short of supplies, and prices rose considerably. Those who desire to establish ducks on any 
available piece of water hitherto running more or less to waste would do well to erect a series of traps on 
the Netherby plan, and utilise them to begin with as pens for first introducing the young ducklings to the 
home water. Ducklings hatched by hens or incubators are incapable of entering the water till they 
are several weeks old, a fact which is in . curious contrast to the readiness with which real wild ducks can 
swim from the moment they are out of the shell. The probable explanation is that those reared in the 
wild state derive a supply of water-resisting oil from contact with the mother-bird, whereas those arti- 
ficially reared must wait some weeks for the development of the necessary oil gland to render their own 
feathers water-resisting. When the keeper decides that the time has come for taking the young ducks to 
the water, no better situation for the hen-coops can be conceived than one of the catching traps. These 
have naturally to be placed in different parts of the ground, so that the various families of young duck 
will be encouraged to inhabit different areas of water, so utilising the natural food supply to the greatest 
advantage. If the amount of water inside the trap is insufficient for the purpose, a somewhat larger area 
can be temporarily inclosed outside, and communication therewith can be made by raising the front 
of the trap. For at least three days the young birds should be kept in this partial confinement, so as 
to accustom them to their new surroundings and acquire the habit, when afterwards released, of turning 
to the trap for food. At the end of three days the temporary inclosure may be removed, and the young 
ducks will then make their way amongst the reeds and waterways in the near neighbourhood, where 
they will eagerly seek flies, small aquatic insects, and other natural provender. 
" The pen and water surrounding it will continue to act as the chief feeding place, and the young 
ducks will acquire the habit of walking unconcernedly in and out of it. Whilst the coops remain in the 
traps and the young ducks necessarily spend much time in their vicinity, the protection of the solid 
roofing and sides is an asset of some importance. Once the hens are removed the ducks will adopt 
a more natural mode of existence on the water, resting for the most part on the small islands which wise 
forethought will have provided. Ducks are, of course, much cheaper than Pheasants to feed, for the 
reason that they obtain a good half of their food from natural sources. If each trap is made the head- 
quarters of fifty young ducks, and the traps are scattered at intervals of about 100 to 150 yards apart, a 
piece of water will be plentifully stocked with birds evenly distributed over the desired area. From time 
to time the fronts of the traps will be pegged down to catch the various participants of the fare provided, 
and these will be dealt with according to their varying merits. If wild ducks, accompanied by young 
ones from neighbouring waters, are found to have joined the more domesticated population, it may be 
a question whether the wings of the old ones should not be cut to prevent them flying away. A certain 
proportion of the home-reared ducks should be similarly treated, so that by remaining on the water they 
will tend to decoy their fellows to return if accidentally disturbed and driven away. 
" Should it happen that rarer ducks of kinds which it is desired to encourage to breed in greater 
numbers are found in the traps, these can be made permanent residents by cutting their wings, or, more 
strictly speaking, the feathers of one wing. After treatment they may be released to wander where they 
like on the available water ; though, for preference, they should be transferred to a special inclosure 
containing about equal parts of rough land and reed-sheltered water, extending, say, to a total area of 
from 2 to 4 acres, according to circumstances. The advantage of these inclosures is that they may be 
strictly reserved for particular kinds of ducks which are under the care of the keeper. A wire netting about 
4 feet high will efficiently inclose ducks with cut wings ; but the fence must be of ampler strength and 
proportions if it is to be made fox-proof. Should it happen that Teal, Wigeon, or any of the scarcer 
ducks are imported with a view to their becoming fairly established, it is desirable that a considerable 
