1 Prp., 1900. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 107 
the duck. I think that this claim can be rejected safely, both as unnecessary 
account for the plumage as well as being contrary to the general experience 
of crossing different species. i 
The name indicates the colouring—blue, probably in the same sense as 
Andalusian fowls are blue, and also probably from the same cause, the mingling 
of white and coloured blood. It seems to me that it would be possible to 
produce a blue duck by crossing the Cayuga and the Aylesbury, though I have 
Rever seen the cross made. In fowls a cross of black and white results in 
arred, speckled, and blue birds, and the same result seems probable if a like 
experiment were to be tried with ducks. The Swedish duck has a white spot on 
© neck—like an exaggeration of the white ring on the neck of the Rouen duck. 
Altogether the plumage would seem to be both novel and attractive. 
The Swedish duck is described as very hardy and capable of standing 
xposure to extreme cold; as very prolific, rivalling the famous Indian Runner 
uck as a layer; as equal in size to the Aylesbury and Pekin; and as having 
esh equal or superior to either of these famous market breeds. The young are 
Said to be very tenacious of life, thriving under conditions which would ensure 
the certain death of the Pekin duckling. Altogether this is quite a catalogue 
of excellences ; and if the duck fairly approximates to its reputation, it is a very 
Valuable addition to the water fowls of the country. 
b One cannot help wondering whether it will breed true or not. This has 
fen the bane of blue fowls, and many a breeder has been unjustly condemned 
cause the young hatched from eggs laid by blue fowls have been black, white, 
and all the shades of blue between these extremes. Blue in fowls is a very 
tnstable colour. It seems to have a very strong tendency to throw back to the 
Ratan colours from which it was produced. I hope it will not be so in these 
cks, : 
T am especially interested in this new duck as an evidence of the forward 
Movement in the aquatic fancy. People often ignorantly condemn the producers 
ot new fowls, as if they were enemies of the poultry fancy. But the truth is 
Just the reverse of this; they are the fancy’s best friends, without whom it 
Would stagnate and die. They put new life into it, by proving the infinite 
variability and plasticity of fowls, and consequently the indefinite possibility of 
Continued improvement. Duck-breeding, as a fancy, has lagged far in the rear 
°f poultry-breeding, for the lack of the necessary variety among the breeds, and 
“ach addition will help the fancy on. And so the breeder of Pekins or Rouens, 
of Cayugas or Aylesburys, ought to rejoice at the appearance of this new- 
romer, the blue Swedish duck. Even if it does not prove to be the possessor of all 
© catalogued merits, it does possess the sine gud non of having a new plumage 
and of adding variety to the colouring of aquatic fowls. ‘That, of itself, is a 
“uticient reason for its being. But it doubtless possesses many valuable 
Practical qualities, so that for use as well as for beauty it has a right to be. 
r TURN EGGS FREQUENTLY. 
No matter how eges may be kept or preserved for future use, they must be 
"rhed over at least three times a week, and the oftener the better. This is not 
ak 8ssist in preventing decomposition, but to avoid having the yolks adhere to 
i shel], The yolk always lies flat on the white and does not sink, asis supposed. 
ne Will soon fasten to the shell if too long in one position, the result being that, 
en when the eggs are good and perfectly free from any taint of decomposition, 
: = yolk, in closely adhering to the shell, gives the appearance of the egg being 
we, thus reducing the price. 
