16 
and be profitable to keep. In weight they seldom grow larger than 2 
to 2 h, pounds each. The close inbreeding to which they have been sub¬ 
jected has been detrimental to their egg production, while those strains 
which have not been so closely bred have proved very prolific. It may 
be said in favor of these ducks, that if allowed to increase in size, 
which they will readily do under favorable circumstances, they would 
prove very profitable to those who prefer keeping small-sized birds to 
the larger ones. 
The East Indian duck is very shy in its habits, and is given to long 
flights, but if attention is shown them in feeding they become attached 
to their home surroundings. They can not be successfully bred in con¬ 
finement ; their natures are roaming and they like freedom of life. The 
first eggs of a litter laid by these ducks are sooty or nearly black in 
color, but they gradually grow lighter until they assume the color com¬ 
mon to the eggs of most varieties. They are splendid sitters, and will 
invariably steal their nests if permitted to do so, but the duck and brood 
when hatched should be confined for a couple of weeks, that the young 
may not be exposed until they have gained some strength and size. 
The head of the black East Indian duck is short and small; eyes dark 
hazel; bill rather short. The head of the drake is of a dark yellowish 
green, free from all spots or blemishes, and the duck’s head is very dark, 
almost black. The exact coloring of the bill of the drake is considered 
of the utmost importance. It is described by an enthusiast as being a 
sort of pale yellow, washed over with blackish green, the color 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 color. By another raiser the 
color of the bill is described as an olive green. The neck is neatly 
curved and short; back, of good length and medium width. The breast 
is full, round, and plump. The body is long and comparatively small; 
wings of medium length and nicely folded; tail short, and in the drake 
has the curled feathers.. The thighs are short and stout, and shanks 
are short and rather small. 
The plumage is a rich black, with a brilliant greenish tint throughout. 
The color of the plumage is of much worth to the beauty of these ducks; 
it must be intensely black, rich in greenish’ reflections, and perfectly 
free from white. The plumage upon the neck, back, and shoulder cov¬ 
erts will show more of the green than will the underparts, the coloring 
of the drake surpassing that of the duck. 
It is seemingly a difficult matter to breed specimens of the required 
color of plumage; more especially is it so with the duck, whose plum¬ 
age is likely to be of a brownish tint. These ducks are quite likely to 
show more or less white in plumage. The white feathers usually appear 
about the eyes and also upon the breast. Birds that have been free 
from white as ducklings have been known to molt almost pure white. 
The ducklings when first hatched are black, with a shade of yellow on 
the breast, and with jet-black feet, shanks, and bill. 
