DUCKS AND DUCK-BREEDING 301 

in the early months of the year, and for this special 
trade it has practically no rivals among the pure breeds of 
our own or any other country. The chief reason for its 
superiority in this respect is its rapid growth. Ducklings 
can be produced ready for killing within seven to nine weeks 
from. the day of hatching, and weighing four to five-and-a- 
half pounds. As the season when prices for ducklings rule 
high is early, quickness of growth is an important factor to the 
breeder, especially as ducks are heavy feeders. ‘The bones 
in this breed are very light, and there is comparatively little 


RovEN DUCKS. 
offal, the flesh being well placed and light in colour, Adult 
drakes weigh about nine pounds, and ducks eight pounds, 
but for breeding purposes a pound less in each sex is no 
disadvantage, provided that the frame is large and well 
developed. The ducks are excellent layers of large-sized 
eggs, of which they frequently produce considerably over a 
hundred and twenty per annum. 
THE ROUEN DUCK. 
The name given to this variety of duck would appear to 
