Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/86

66 The whole of the under part of the body should be this colour right along to the under part of the tail. The top of the back should be of a very rich greenish hue, leading right along to the tail feathers, the latter being of the same colour, with a beautiful curl. The wings should be of a greyish brown, and what are called the middle flights should have a "ribbon bar" across them, which must be of a very bright distinct blue, edged on both sides with white. The flight feathers are grey and brown. Unless they are very good specimens, white will often show in the flight feathers. The legs should be of a rich orange, and the carriage of the bird should be very really perfect specimen is a splendid picture. The bill of the duck is not quite so long as that of the drake, and is of a duller colour. Some of them are almost black. I find the colour varies a good deal, according to the season. The head is brown, with two distinct lines, one over the eye, and one under the eye. They are of a pale brown colour, and Rouen ducks should always show these two lines distinctly. The whole body is of two colours; one a very dark brown, and the other a light brown, the feathers being pencilled. They should be pencilled all over with these two shades of light and dark brown. The ducks should show dark blue in the middle of their flights, edged with white, just the same as the drake, only not quite so bright. The more evenly the ducks are pencilled the better specimens they are. As the plates of the duck and drake are not coloured they are not such a good guide to go by; but, if the readers will look carefully, they will