546 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry . 
multiplicity of names — Buenos Ayrean, Labrador, Black East Indian, and of late I have seen them 
called by a new name, Black Brazilian ; but all these are equally inappropriate.* They are not 
known in a wild state in any part of the world ; and I think the most reasonable supposition is, that 
they are a variety of, or, as gardeners would say, ‘a sport’ from, the common Mallard (Anas 
boschas ), as are also the recently-imported Cayuga Ducks from America. They have been kept in 
this country for many years, and have put in an appearance regularly at poultry-shows from the. 
very first. Indeed, they used to be shown in greater numbers years ago than they are now, the 
rage for Mandarins, Carolinas, &c., having caused them to be rather neglected of late. Still, 
several new exhibitors of them have appeared in the lists the last year or so, and I have no doubt 
we shall soon see them in as large numbers as ever. Their beauty is so great, and they give 
so little trouble, requiring no pampering or extra feeding for exhibition, like the Rouens, &c., 
that they must always have plenty of admirers. 
“ As regards plumage, the drake should be of a most brilliant, lustrous, I might almost say 
dazzling, green throughout, i.e., the whole of the upper part of the body and wings; the breast and 
under parts being deep black. Sometimes the breast-feathers are tinged with reddish-brown, but 
that is a defect which absolutely disqualifies the bird, if the judging is good, and a drake so 
marked should never be bred from. The feet and legs should be as nearly black as possible ; they 
get, however, lighter with age, showing in course of years more or less of an orange tint. 
“ With respect to the bill, I mean the drake s bill, * doctors differ.’ My opinion (and I am 
glad to know that I am in accord with most of the oldest breeders) is that it should be a sort of 
pale yellow washed over with blackish green, the colour being laid on thinly , as it were, so as to 
give an almost transparent effect, and shaded off at the tip into a kind of slate-colour. If the yellow 
is too deep, and, as it were, too thickly laid on, it turns in course of time into a bright orange, which 
is very objectionable. There should be no black spots or patches whatever upon the bill. On the 
other hand, one of our most eminent judges prefers the bill as dark in colour and as near black as 
possible. But I really do think this is (not to put too fine a point upon it) a great mistake. The 
lighter bill harmonises and also contrasts so well with the green plumage, that a great beauty is 
lost by requiring the black bill. Bills of either colour can be produced by a proper selection of 
stock birds, or rather, I should say, young birds can be shown with bills of either colour ; for bills 
will get lighter with age, and however dark they may be at, say eight months, they will be much 
lighter at eighteen months. 
“ The duck should be in all points except the bill as like the drake as possible ; not that a 
duck ever was as green as a drake, or at least as a drake ought to be. As usually seen, the ducks 
are of a brownish black, slightly glossed with green on the back and wings, and with a bright green 
wing-spot. Ducks that are really green are very rare, and if good in other points, such as size, 
symmetry, and bill, are very valuable. The bill of the duck should be deep black ; it is generally 
shaded off at the tip to slate-colour, but the less of this and the darker the bill the better. Ducks 
are often seen with patches of green upon the bill, and some of the judges do not seem to object to 
it — at all events, I have seen a duck in a first prize pen at Birmingham so adorned — but I think it 
a great blemish, indeed quite a disqualification. I would never award a prize to such a duck, nor 
would I keep such a one in my own yard. 
“ All Black East Indians, both drakes and ducks, are liable to throw white feathers. These 
appear most usually at the base of the lower mandible and round the eyelids. Sometimes a white 
feather or two shows itself on the breast. I do not mind a few, if only a few, at the base of the 
* Mr. J. K. Fowler says they are found in the Punjaub ; and we believe the Zoological Gardens obtained their first specimen? 
from Buenos Ayres. Two of the names may perhaps be thus accounted for. 
