304 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
THE ROUEN, OR ROAN DUCK. 
The so-called Eouen cluck does not require a lengthened description at our hands, 
it being simply a variety of the common domesticated Mallard, increased in size by 
abundant feeding and the careful selection of breeding stock. The breed obviously 
did not come from the locality from whence it takes its most common name, which is 
probably a corruption or mispronunciation of the term Koan duck. In fact, like all 
other geographical titles of our varieties of poultry, the word is a misnomer, and 
one which, if the alteration were not liable to lead to still greater confusion, it 
would be very desirable to abolish. Writing on this subject, a correspondent, 
Mr. E. G. Jones, states, I have been a breeder of Kouens for some years, and 
take much interest in their history, but could never discover that Kouen was 
especially famous for this breed of birds. On the contrary, from inquiries made 
of poultry fanciers and others who have visited that locality, I have found that 
these birds were not reared there as a domestic fowl, nor did they abound in a wild 
state in that district. 
As to the application of the term, it is most probable that it is merely a cor- 
ruption of the word Koan, or ‘ Grey duck,’ and the animal is not without some 
claim to the cognomen. 
As to the origin of the breed, there can be little doubt that it has been bred 
from the Mallard, enlarged and improved by care and good feeding, and corresponds 
precisely with it in every respect in the details and marking of the plumage. 
The markings found also in the wild species are considered as the criteria of 
perfection by poultry fanciers and judges, in the* present day, which proves much 
more than any facts I might advance. In support of this latter statement, I may 
state that I myself have bred from the ‘ Mallard drake ’ and ‘ Kouen duck,’ and 
the produce was true in the marking, and full sized after the third cross.” 
Mr. Hewitt, writing of the points of merit in these birds, states, I am confi- 
dent that the Kouens are the most profitable of the duck tribe. They are more 
lethargic, and consequently more speedily fed than any others ; they lay great 
numbers of large eggs, the average weight of which should be three and a half 
ounces, always above three ounces. The colour of the egg is a blue-green, the 
shell being considerably thicker than in the eggs of the Aylesbury breed. 
The flesh is of the highest possible flavour, and in first-rate specimens is abun- 
dant in quality. I have frequently known young drakes of only nine or ten weeks 
old to weigh when killed twelve pounds the pair, and in some instances even more 
than this. As regards the consumption of food, I have not found them to require 
more than the other varieties. In colour, the plumage should closely approximate 
to that of the common wild duck. The eyes, however, are deeply sunk in the head, 
and these ducks especially have, even when young, the appearance of old birds, 
the abdominal protuberance being, as in the case of the Toulouse geese, developed 
at a very early age. 
This enlargement of the lower part of the body in over-fat specimens causes it 
to rest upon the ground, not unfrequently to the destruction of the feathers. 
