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Dr. E. HopJcinson — Duck-breeding Records



poor Polly surrounded by a large crowd, gazing anxiously through the

bars of a hen coop which someone had dropped over her, and repeating

loudly, “ What do you want ? What do you want ? 55 She was very

pleased indeed to scramble on my shoulder and turn her back on public

life !


To me there is something peculiarly fascinating in a really tame

bird, so tame that it is really a member of the household. Of course,

one’s furniture occasionally shows “ the mark of the beak ”, but who

cares when one has “ Polly ” to welcome one !



DUCK-BREEDING RECORDS


SUMMARY OF RECORDS TO DATE {AUGUST, 1935)


By Dr. E. Hopkinson, C.M.Gr., D.S.O.


The list of Duck Hybrids given on p. 78 of this year’s Magazine

having at least interested a few, and provided me with some additions

and other facts of interest, I venture to supplement it with a Summary

of the Records to date in the hope of interesting others and producing

more information in the way of additions or corrections.


The relative values of the Records are roughly indicated by the

use of different types. Capitals mean that as far as the Records go,

the species (or hybrid) has certainly been bred and that no further

record is needed ; for those shown in ordinary type more detail is

wanted, while enclosure in parentheses indicates doubt and the

addition of a (?) more doubt.


The numbers are those of Records, 1926.


535. Whooper Swan.


536. (Whistling Swan ; hybrid record only).


Bewick’s Swan (Woburn).


537. Trumpeter Swan (Holland).


538. Common Swan.


539. Black-necked Swan.


547. Coscoroba Swan (Woburn once).



