IfottEsru Ten standard breed, of In ntestic are raised in the \\Alit,. Pekin, white er lured I Zooco. black (..tt uga. colored :\luseiity, t\hite Musricy. gray 'ink. •Nliite call, black East Indian. and the crested white. I if these breed- the rrst six are el profitable to raise: the two breeds of calls and the black East Indian are bantams and are bred more for the showroom: the ;Tested white may be considered as almost purely mental. See Colored Plato of 1)ti' Ks.
The Pekin 411141:., which leads in popularity, \vas introduced from China since 1S7i). it is a distinct type. Both male and female of standard breed specimen. have a pure yellow bill, white or cream-tvhite plumage. and lead-colored eyes. The neck of a Pekin should be gracefully curved: in the drake it should be large and rather long. while that of the duck is of medium length. The back is long and broad: the breast round. full, and very prominent. The body is long and deep, and the standard for adult birds is a body approaching in outline a parallelogram. The wings are short, carried closely and smoothly against the hie). tail is elect, more so than in tiny other breed. The curled feathers in the tail of the drakes are hard and still'. These ducks are very large, some reaching as high as twenty pounds to the pair. Their 'Nish is very delicate and free from grossness, and they are considered among the best of table fowls. Tliev are excellent egg-layers. averaging from 100 to 130 eggs each in a season.
The white ducks are also popular for inark.et purposes. espeeially in England and the Continent of Europe. These ducks \chile. soft plumage. a long wide bill of a pale flesh or pink ish color; the slender neck is long and gracefully ,-arced, and the billy i. long and oval. The other breeds differ more or less from the two mentioned above and are eharacterized by their form, color. etc. The itimens and \luseilvys have ornamental plumage. The Thiseovy drake has it crest. as do also both male and female of time r rested White (Nei: Pliek-OliS1/19 been in the [nit ell Mates into a flourishing industry. Not many years ago t he duck was iiiinsid•red an unprofitable foal tit raise; it. flesh was never by the masses. Were Addl• out eonstraint in waterways. feeding mostly on fish and water insects. This food gate the flesh it .Irons fishy flavor: hence it was not partieularly sought after. sacs by the 't\ 1141 'Were partial to that elass of diet. When care-fulls fattened this flavor is nil noticeable. .\rtilieial incubation and brooding. combined with jitiliiiious feeding, b ice been n11111'111 al in the development of the in dustry. The season for raising ducks is about six months in i.e. front February to ilidy. The food of lime duck is both animal and vegetable in nature. In the wild state it gathers its food, consisting of flag. grasses, small fishes, water in
sects. etc., from brooks and marshes. When the birds are raised in confinement this diet must, in a measure. be imitated to get the most satis factory results. Such foods as wheat-bran. corn meal. and beef-serap. mixed with to a mush. with grit and green food. constitute the most satisfactory diet. The food must he in a soft state. Too touch hard food, such as grain, does not agree with these birds and they cannot thrive on it. While sonic raisers use a small .111°w:ince of grain. others do not, and it has not been proved to be of any advantage to feed it. It has been estimated that it costs trout t to 12 cents a pound to raise a duck for market at ten weeks, of age. The cost of feed is from 41', to 5 cents a pound. and that of labor. etc.. is front 4 to S cents a pound. It costs from :;:1.75 to 42.50 each to keep breeding ducks a year. When ducks are raised for breeders they are fed differ ently from those intended for market. They are not forced as mooch as are the latter. and less fattening food is given them. To raise ducks successfully. it is not at all necessary that they should have access to water, except for drinking purposes: they grow and thrive as readily with out. There arc successful duck farms where thousands of ducks are raised without access to water, save that which is given them as drink. It has been a matter of much dispute which is the better way. As food, ducks are much prized, their flesh having a very agreeable flavor. when properly fattened. Ducks' eggs are larger than hens' eggs, but resemble them closely in com position. They are much used as food. especially in Europe.
The species most nearly allied to the common duck is said to be the Javanese duck (Alms Jaranensis), nearly allied to the mallard.
BittmonnArnY. Consult: Howard, "Ducks and Geese." in United States Department of Agricul ture. Farmer's Bulletin 10 (Washington. 1S'971: Yorke. Our Ducks (Chicago. 1900), a history of American ducks: Helm. rultirated Plants and Domestic Animals (translated by Stallybrass. London, 1891). For wild ducks: Consult the authorities referred to under 1Intos, especially those hooks relating to northern latitudes. More special works of popular interest are Elliot. Wild Fowl of North America (New York. IS9S) Mor ris. British Game-birds and Wild-Fowl (London. 1s911 : Lloyd. Game-Birds and Wild-Powl of and Norway (London. 1861) : Job, Among the descriptions and photo graphic illustrations of breeding habits (New York. 19021.
DUCK (Dutch dock, towel. Icel. dukr. Ger. Tuck cloth. Gott. ufiduuka, talde-companionl. An untwilled fabric of cotton or linen. not so heavy as canvas, but used for similar purposes. CANv.vs.) The lighter and liner grades are used for women's and children's suits.