150 British Diving Ducks 
" At the age of seven weeks ducklings will begin to eat small grain, but will still prefer duck- 
weed to anything else. When they commence to assume their winter plumage, a little extra 
nourishment is good, especially in the case of Sheld-Ducks, which, by the way, should never be 
allowed access to deep water until at least three months old, and even then they must not be 
allowed to stay in the water too long for a start. In the case of newly-hatched Carolinas and 
Mandarins, the enclosure must be covered over with small-mesh wire netting on the top, for these 
birds can climb with extraordinary agility ; we have seen them run up the back and sides of a hen- 
coop almost like mice." 
Mr. St. Quintin also gives some practical advice on the treatment of newly-caught 
duck which are shy and difficult to feed. He says {ibid., pp. 15, 16): 
"The duck should be placed, after the flight feathers of the wing have been shortened, in a small 
temporary pen (a 4-feet square packing-case will do), with peat moss, or chopped straw on the floor, and 
small-meshed wire netting across the top. In this way air and sufficient light are admitted, while the bird 
cannot look over the sides, and seeing no apparent way out, generally quickly settles down. The pen, 
with the bird, must be stood in a quiet place, and where there is no chance of dogs or cats disturbing the 
captive. Scoters, Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks and Golden- Eyes will generally, if they are kept quiet in 
this way, at once take small sprats, and, presently, bits of rough fish cut up, ox liver, and even rabbit's 
flesh if placed in their water-pan. No water except that which also contains the food must at this stage 
be within reach. Scoters and Scaup will soon take meal made very moist, offered in the same way in a 
shallow pan. Barley meal mixed with scalded Spratt's poultry meal and crissel will do very well. I 
have found Golden- Eyes less easy to train off fish, while Long-tailed Ducks may be months before they 
will take meal readily, though in the end it seems to suit them well (always in addition to plenty of animal 
food). When that stage is reached it is best to throw the pellets of meal to the expectant birds first, as if 
the allowance of flesh and meat is given them at the beginning of the feed they may refuse the meal 
afterwards. 
" I may here recommend that any specially delicate ducks, or indeed other birds, should be fed at 
regular meals, and that the food should not be always before them — that is, of course, after the first stage, 
when they are thoroughly tamed and feeding freely. 
*' But to revert to the new comer, which at the end of a week or ten days, more or less, should know 
its food-pan, and should be taking what seems to be sufficient food to keep it in good flesh, 
" No more time should be expended in this stage (in the small pen) than can be avoided, for the 
reason that the bird, which we will suppose is a diving duck and perhaps a marine one, is all this time off 
the water, and its plumage is dry, and it will be found that it is no longer waterproof. When the bird 
gets an opportunity of washing it is soon soaked through, and if exposed to a cold wind is very liable to 
contract cramp, and even a fatal attack of pneumonia. Therefore, the sooner the bird is placed upon 
water the better, as it will then have recourse to the oil gland, and will dress its feathers till their water- 
resisting condition is restored. In addition to this a diving duck's feet, if kept dry too long, are liable to 
crack, and lameness follows, especially in frosty weather. . . . 
" I have found a small deep pond, say five yards across, with sloping banks, so that the bird is not 
tempted to be always trying to escape, while at the same time there is shelter from wind, is convenient. 
Of course, it must be wired round. Also one can sometimes run a half-circle of wire netting out into the 
water where the bird is, presently to be enlarged, so as to keep him within reach till he is tame, at any 
rate enough to take food thrown from the hand. This will be made much easier if there is a thoroughly 
tame duck or two, not necessarily of the same species, confined with the new bird, as they quickly inspire 
him with confidence. Also it is a good plan to feed any duck outside the wire half-circle close up to it, 
and in sight of the newcomer, for the same purpose. The beginning and the end of successful reclaiming 
of newly- caught birds is to keep up the ' wild ' condition and flesh, and to tame them by inspiring them 
with confidence in their feeder as above suggested, without anything approaching starvation, or even 
stinting them in their full supply of food. It must be remembered that marine ducks, like the waders of 
our shores, are sensitive to the cold weather which we get inland. Any of the above-named species, and 
also Eiders, are much more liable to suffer from prolonged frost than fresh-water species even from south 
