Cayuga and Black East India Ducks. 
545 
“ I do not believe we now have here [in Lancashire] any true-bred black ducks ; but in 
Preston market twenty years ago they were very common, as were two other quite distinct breeds 
that have disappeared. The black ducks were very large, and bred true to colour. There were 
also blue ducks, nearly the colour all over of an Andalusian hen, and the drake the same, except 
being rather darker on his shoulder-coverts and head ; these also bred true to colour, and were 
very slender and tight-feathered in their general appearance. The third variety were called 
‘duns they were of a yellowish dun colour throughout the whole plumage, the drake being rather 
darker on his back than on the rest of his body. These last were the largest, but were more 
sluggish, and required more attention than the others, but did not need so much water. I also 
remember a breed parti-coloured, with immense top-knots. For several years now, however, 
nearly all the young ducks that are brought to Preston market are Aylesburys, or crosses from 
them, as they are bought chiefly for the Liverpool poulterers, who will give more for them than 
for the others. 
“ I recollect asking a gentleman who has spent many years in America trapping and shooting, 
about the Cayugas, and he appeared to know them well. He, too, said they were so similar in 
appearance to the English black duck that it was hard to tell the difference. He seemed to think 
the breed had at some time been taken from England, and that the difference in flavour might 
easily be accounted for by the change of climate, but especially by the difference of food and water- 
plants. He particularly mentioned some duck celebrated in America for its exquisite flavour 
(I believe, but am not sure, it was the Black East Indian),* this being attributed to its feeding on 
the wild celery ; and I understood him to say that if they were confined for some time before being 
killed, and had plenty of celery chopped fine in their food, they took just the same flavour. But 
whether the Cayugas were taken from England or not, if they prove as good as the old Lancashire 
Black Duck they will be very valuable.” 
The legs of the Cayuga Duck are generally of a very dark dusky orange-colour, covered over 
by a fine network of black lines. They should be for show as dark as may be, while the plumage 
should be as glossy as it is possible to obtain. By a cross with some of the largest and best of the 
Black East Indian the colour could probably be much improved, while size could soon be 
recovered again. Of course the white feathers which so trouble breeders in both varieties must be 
bred out as soon as possible ; and, judging by past difficulties which have been overcome in various 
breeds of fowls, we have little doubt a few years will see much improvement in this respect. 
THE BLACK EAST INDIAN DUCK, known also by many other synonyms, as Mr. 
Serjeantson has mentioned, is very evidently allied to the foregoing, and stands midway as it were 
between the useful and the purely ornamental varieties. We once thought differently; but the 
many opportunities we have lately had of comparing both have removed all our own doubts on this 
point. Not only is the colour identical, allowing for the care with which a green gloss has been 
sought by breeders of the small or “fancy” variety, but both are liable to the very same faults or 
spots of white, and Mr. Sainsbury’s remarks show that even in economic qualities the two breeds 
are identical. Which, however, was the parent, and which the offspring, it would probably be now 
as idle as fruitless to inquire. 
The Rev. W. Serjeantson has kindly furnished us with the following notes on this beautiful 
breed of ducks : — 
“ Black East Indian Ducks, like many of their companions in the poultry-yard, rejoice in a 
* We think the duck here mentioned more likely to have been the Canvas-back ; but both feed on and acquire the flavour of 
the wild celery. 
