12 
plumage birds, and tbe profits will be proportionately as great. Duck 
raisers, like broiler raisers, are partial to white feathers for market 
fowls, but those who do not look with this partiality on the white 
varieties will find an excellent choice in the Cayuga duck. 
Cayugas are splendid birds for a restricted range and breed well in 
confinement; they are quiet, docile, and form a strong attachment for 
their home, evincing no inclination or desire to stray far away from the 
place where they were bred. They are hardy and prolific, producing 
from 80 to 00 eggs in the spring, and sometimes they also lay again in 
the autumn. They are easily kept in good condition, but if fed too lib¬ 
erally they will fatten too quickly and will become too heavy behind. 
The ducklings are hardy and easy to raise, and attain good size and 
weight at an early age. 
The head of the Cayuga is small, with glossy black plumage; bill 
rather short and broad, of dark color, black being preferred; the eyes 
dark hazel. The neck is medium, gracefully curved, clad in black 
feathers with a greenish luster; the back is broad, and the body long, 
well rounded, and very plump, the feathers being of a glossy black hue. 
The wings are long and are carried smoothly against the body, and are 
black in color, excepting those of the duck, which are sometimes of a 
dark brown. The coverts of the drake are a very lustrous green black; 
the tail feathers are black, as are the thighs. Black shanks, toes, and 
webs are preferred, though dark slate color is permissible according to 
the standard requirements. The color of the plumage must be lustrous 
black throughout, and feathers of any other color will disqualify a bird 
in the showroom. 
Weight.—The standard weight of the adult drake is 8 pounds; adult 
duck, 7 pounds; young drake, 7 pounds, and young duck, 0 pounds. 
COLORED AND WHITE MUSCOVY DUCKS. 
History.—Muscovy ducks (fig. 6) form a distinct genus, having several 
X^eculiarities or characteristics which make them different from others. 
They are sometimes called the Musk duck, owing to the odor of musk 
which pervades the skin, but which is not noticeable when cooked. 
These ducks are found wild in the warmer regions of South America. 
In Brazil they are extensively domesticated and are prized very highly 
for eating. In this country and Europe, particularly in Germany, they 
are bred in large numbers. Wild Muscovies are easily frightened and 
very good flyers; they fly into trees when alarmed and remain there 
for long periods of time before leaving their place of concealment. 
They sometimes build their nests in branches of trees, and also in 
hollows near water. 
Description.—Muscovy ducks are very unsatisfactory birds to keep on 
the farm with other poultry, owing to their quarrelsome and pugnacious 
natures. In the wild state, before pairing, the males tight desperately, 
doing great harm to each other; and this fighting, quarrelsome dispo- 
