THE POULTRY BOOK. 
305 
The appearance of over fat birds is certainly ungainly, but the observer cannot 
fail to be struck with the size of good specimens of the family. Rouen ducks are 
as hardy as any other kind, and they rarely evince any disposition to wander from 
the neighbourhood of the homestead ; so dull and lethargic are they, that they are 
liable to be picked up by any pilferer, and even if one bird is taken, the others will 
scarcely move away ; they appear to care less for exercise on the water than any 
other variety.” 
In weight, Rouens approach that of any of the other varieties. At the 
Birmingham show of 1866, the weights of the three prize pairs were re- 
spectively nineteen, eighteen and a half, and seventeen and a quarter pounds. 
The exact points required in the exhibition-pen are so fully detailed in the 
Standard of Excellence,” which is reprinted in the Appendix, that no further 
details are necessary. . 
THE AYLESBURY DUCK. 
The characteristics of this valuable variety are soon described. Great size, imma- 
culate purity of white plumage, a large broad pale flesh-coloured bill, which should 
be free from dark marks or stains, constitute the most strongly-marked features of 
the breed. In weight, Aylesburys are generally somewhat superior to the Rouens. 
Of late years, by careful selection of brood stock, great improvements have been 
effected in the size of this breed; formerly, twelve pounds per pair was thought 
a good, and sixteen pounds an extreme, vveight ; but at the last Birmingham show 
the first prize pair weighed eighteen pounds, and the birds had probably lost a 
pound during their journey from home. 
Aylesburys are, if well fed, prolific la^^ers of fine eggs, the shells of those 
laid by the best strains being of a clear white. As sitters, Aylesburys are better 
mothers than Rouens, not being so unwieldy in their actions. 
Those intended for brood stock should not be fed to the extent that is requisite 
in the show-pen, many of the exhibition birds being so fat as to have the 
abdominal muscles stretched to such a degree that the birds are “ down behind.” 
The inexperienced breeder should be cautious in purchasing such birds, as they are 
generally perfectly useless for stock purposes, the drakes and ducks being alike 
sterile. 
In order to exhibit these birds in the state of repletion seen at our shows, they 
are kept away from water, fed most liberally on boiled meal or grain, and confined 
in a dark room, so as to maintain the delicate flesh-colour of the bills. 
The feeding of all varieties of ducks is best managed by putting the grain into a 
pan of water. In this way it is taken more readily, not any portion is wasted by 
being trampled in the mud, and the birds are maintained in better health and in 
finer condition by not having to devour the food soiled by the manure of the yard. 
As the Aylesburys are the variety most generally selected for the supply of the 
London markets, the following extract from an article by Mr. Tegetmeier, on 
poultry regarded as agricultural stock, may not be without interest : — 
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