.■•^, rHE INDIAN RUNNER DUCK BOOK (The MUiie (f^uea c. s. valeint-ine: CONTENTS 1. Some Guesses and Some Facts about Indian Runners 2. English History, Views, and Standard 3. The Present Show OuaHtyof American Standard Indian Runi-ers 4. Comparison of Englisli and American Types 5. Selling and Cookery Value of Indian Runner Eggs 6. System and Forethought in Making a Market 7. The Indian Runners Making History 8. Best All-Arotmd Handling of the Breeding Stock 9. Some Spurious and Some Genuine Indian Runners 10. The Future of the Indian Runners in America 11. Indian Runner Ducks and Farm Breeding 12. The Newer Variety, the White Indian Runner ^,lCLlZt.>r..U, THE INDIAN RUNNER DUCK BOOK. The Only Authoritative American Book about this Marvelous Egg Machine. "They say she did! " "Who did?" "The Indian Runner Duck. ' "Did what?" "Laid 320 eggs in one year.'' RIDGE WOOD, N. J. \\ H. VALETsTTIiN i: 19 11 4^' \ ^ COPYRIGHT. 1911 BY H. a C. S. VALENTINE ^ CI.A2S08SG Some Guesses and Some Facts About INDIAN RUNNERS CHAPTER 1 1 tl'.ink it was about 1904 or 1905 that the first important Htera- turc conceniin,^^ the Indian Runner Ducks was pubhshcd in this country. At about this time, t^ood articles, deaUng with the wonderful qualities of this new breed were published in at least three of our jjoultry ]jeriod- icals. Soon, breeders, here and there, began to try them in a somewhat gingerly wa_\\ as though rather expecting a gold brick. The great serv- ice which this early literature did the breed was to call public attention strongly to it, through what then seemed the exorbitant claims made for these birds as layers. After a few years Mr. Irving Cook took up this breed, advertising continuously and rather strikingly. As he began the work \vhen young and enthusiastic, and, later, gave his entire strength to his Indian Run- ner business the Runners soon found themselves in the inidst of a "booin." But even before him several men who still breed the Runners were at work with this breed. As soon as the breed began to attract keen attention, some breeders who wished to improve it in every possible way began to make inquiries as to its origin. One early breeder who made every effort to get the true history about this time reports that even then "it seemed to be a matter of surmise. All the writers' ideas on the subject seemed to be vague, and many conflicting statements were made." Some of the causes for this haziness and conflict of statement I have been able to run down. 3 Much misconception arose through an accident. The first two detailed descriptions of the breed which I noted in American pubhca- tions were from writers across the big waters, one in New Zealand, the other in Ireland. Birds in these countries would naturally have come from England, and be of English type. H. DeCourcy's article was so straightforward and sensible, yet so conservative that it seemed to give the ]niblic good ground for confidence in the breed. Unfortunately, this early article gave the West Indies as the original home of the Indian Runner. This statement has been copied by many, while others have given a widely different origin. In a recent circular, the matter was disposed of in this way: "Coming originally from the West Indies, the\' are a cross of Rouen and Wild Mallard." Of the three supposed facts given here (West Indian origin, Rouen blood, Mallard blood,) probabl\' not one could be prove i, though the last might have some credibilitx' through the tact that most breeds of ducks are descended from the Mallard. I have long suspected that the DeCourcy statement, as printed in this country, was an office, or "proof" error. Trying to get at the facts. I wrote to Mr. DeCourcy in October, igio, inquiring if this were not the case. The reply w^as directly to the point: "If my article says 'West' it was a misprint, — or perhaps a clerical error of mine." As the real. native home of the Indian Runner has long been believed to be the East Indies, it is quite easy to see how such an error could arise through the misplacement of a single letter. At no other period except when the breed was just being introduced could such an error have worked so much mischief as to the f^cts. Among the early breeders here were Mr. Cook, Mr. Fay Davis, Fhnt, Mich., M. V. Decker and, in 1900, A. J. Hallock. Mr. W, Delano's name has also been given me as an early breeder, but I have been un- able to get any information from this source. It will be admitted with- out question, I think, that our one reliance for the early history of the breed in this country must be the statements of the earliest breeders. While the "West Indies story "2 was going the rounds, with no one 4 contra Aictin; it, and gaining strength through repetition, the British hirds were being quietly bred for some time, before the pubhc began to awake to the value of the Runners. The Davids brothers, of Kansas, began about 1902. Davis in 1897, Hallock in 1900. These three. I know, had their birds from Great Britain. I think there is no room for doubt that all the other early breeders had stock from the same source, either direct or thnnigh contemporary breeders. Since it appears that the earliest specimens here came from British sources, it seems to be onh' crdinary common-sense to take British testimony as to their origin. The English early history - i.s far as it is history, and not supposition, at least — should be admitted to be the true history. At all events, the guesses and '■imj)ressions" of later breeders here, have abs')lutely no value. During the present season not less than 160 breeders have been advertising Indian Runners. There may have been more, btit I have a list showing this number. Seven years ago. Reliable Poultry Journal — for years a favorite medium with the duck breeders — carried only two Indian Runner advertisements in May in the Classified list. The Run- ners have appeared almost wholly in the classified lists; since they seem to have been almost universally welcomed as an accessory to other breeds of fancy fowls. At all events, they have sold so easily that onlv classified advertising has been necessary, apparently. One of the two who were thus advertising in 1903 was Cook. In 1906 he blossomed out as the breeder of "the only true fawn and white colors, and the world's heaviest laying strain." He had, then, five com- petitors in the classified column. Remembering that this was onlv four years ago, we may well be amazed at the advance which the Runners have so recently made in public favor. According to these figures, the .fawn and white type became "the only true" just about five years ago. It may be remembered, also, that this was the year the Standard which breeders have followed for the last five years, appeared. It would seem that, even in Great Britain, the Runners were not well and widely known so very much longer than they have been known 5 here. In 1893, four years before Mr. Davis received his first birds, a book on poultry for profit was put out by a Britisher who had previous- ly written another poultry book, and who might have been thought to be fairly well posted. He mentions only three breeds of ducks, but takes occasion to remark: "It is much to be regretted that no steps have been taken to breed laying strains of ducks." The history of the Runner in England, however, is easily to be followed back for about twenty-five years. If it becomes hazy as we go farther back, this need not surprise the Yankees who have managed so to conceal their tracks in something like fifteen years that in a new book advertised as the best in America, and giving sixteen entire lines to the Runners, it is plainly stated that the origin of these ducks cannot be traced authentically. But a Rouen cross is admitted. Was that Rouen cross a Yankee contribution ? If, as no one doubts, the Indian Runner Ducks came to us from England, it would seem, indeed, the part of common-sense, and of cour- tesy no less, to accept the story of their origin as presented by the best and oldest English breeders. American cleverness, however, professes to have discovered that the Britishers, no matter how decent people thev be, are presumably equivocating about the origin of the Indian Runner duck. The juxtaposition of a quasi-Yankee head and a Belgic head has brought up a new story, to the effect that the Britishers did not get their Runners from East India or any other old place whence old sea- captains come out of obscurity, but just across the channel in Belgiuin ! But they have carelessly omitted to tell us how it happened that when those Belgian ducks flew (?) across the channel, they happened to light in County Cumberland, away off to the north-west, as far as possible from Belgium. Frankly, I think this story very far-fetched. For, the English certainlv could not be ignorant of the existence of these thous- ands of Belgian ducks. If they were really the same thing as the Indian Runners it would be well known on both sides of the channel, in which case the only possible conclusion would be that the English breeders have deliberately clouded their origin, and lied about it for these scores of years. I do not believe fair minded Americans wish to support this unworthy view. Some information so definite and detailed that it would seem as though it must be correct, has rece.itly come to me through an English Correspondent. I have not had suthcient time since to ferret out the treatise giving this information, to which my correspondent refers. His letter reads as follows: "The earliest history of the fowl, (T. R. Duck) that can be gathered is that they were closely associated with the anc- ient Hindus in India looo years B. C. The bird appealed to them through its fighting qualities. Thus it was that the fowd was first domesti- cated, not for its food value so much as its sporting qualities. It was principal] V located in the Punjaub, Northern India; its culture spread over India, then distributed through the islands of the Indian -Ocean and into China, and as civilization increased and commerce and colonization commenced it gradually worked its way through the Malay archipelago into Persia, and thence into the European countries. I have not been able to find the treatise I have somewhere on this subject or would have sent it to you," I do not give these as absolutely the facts, because I have, at the present, no other basis for it than the memory of a single correspondent. But. in view of the interest in the matter, and the many guesses, it seemed well to give this, also, a place. English History VIEWS AND STANDARD CHAPTER II After we trace back to a certain period, or, possibly, forty years or so, the history of the Indian Runner in England becomes somewhat hazy. English breeders say that the earliest literature on the breed — or, at least, that which goes farthest back, is a Httle treatise by John Donald, who lived in County Cumberland, where the breed was first known. In this book, Mr. Donald states that the Indian Runners were brought to England by a sea captain, about sixty years before his book was written. H. DeCourcy, of Ireland, a writer whom we know quite well in America — thinks it is now twenty years since he first saw this (undated) book. This would make it eighty years since the breed first made any history in England that is now remembered — a period so re- mote that none would now be alive who had personal knowledge of the facts and of its introduction and earliest history. One of the English treatises, "The Indian Runner," was written by Jacob Thomlinson, who first knew this duck in County Cumberland He refers to Mr. Donald's (earlier) work, and also to a brief treatise by Mr. Henry Digby, giving credit to these men for all items not within his own, personal knowledge. The illustrations in the Thomlinson pam- phlet are from drawings by Mr. J. W. Walton, Secretary of the present Indian Runner Duck Club. "They give," says Mr. Thomlinson, "a, clear insisfht of what a true Runner should and should not be." The models from which these pictures were drawn "have won prizes at the great National Shows." They were intended to be used as "a guide to both old and new fanciers, to obtain a more uniform idea of type and standard." Mr. Thomlinson's own .knowledge of the breed reached back thirty years, but his treatise was also undated. However, he gives us a point to rest on by saying that he first took "particular notice" of these birds in 1884, when one duck made for him a record of 180 eggs. As this "completely overshadowed" other breeds, it was the foundation of Mr. ThomHnson's vital interest in the Indian Runners. The peculiar, running gait, it is thought, seems proof of the Ind- ian Runners being survivors of the fittest, long ago, in a barren region lacking in vegetation and abundant insect life, where the usual type of waddling duck would have died from want of sufficient sustenance, through sheer inability to forage so fast and so far. Tradition, vague rumor, or what not, gave rise to a belief that the original home of these birds was the East Indies. From the fact that Mr. Donald was a resident of County Cum- berland, the original seat of Indian Runner culture in England, it seems to follow that he is most likely to be right as to their origin, and it was to him that the earlier English breeders looked very largely for infor- mation. The power of the true Indian Runner to stamp its color and marking, in the case of a cross, is taken as evidence of very long fixation of its characteristics in the native state. Eighty per cent of such prog- env, it is said will favor the Runner, especially in characteristic color. This varies considerably above the proportion given by Mendel's law. English breeders seem willmg to allow that the long neglect has made it impossible that many types should not appear in various parts of the Island; for, the original blood must have been largely tainted dur- ing the slowness of the nation to recognize the peculiar value of the breed, and to place it early under the "care of some organization which would watch out for the preservation of the most valuable and vital 9 characteristics. Like the Rhode Island Red in this country, the breed Iiad a sadly neglected youth. Quite a number of importations have in later years, been made into this country from the flocks of Mr J W. Walton, "'Honorable Sec- retary" of the Indian Runner Duck Club of England. Mr. Walton says that the best birds have always been in a very few hands. He wrote me. personally, that even in England "breeders, exhibitors and judges fell into nearly every possible trouble with Indian Runners and reduced them from an outstanding and most distinctive bird to a common type, small, cross-bred duck with fairly even markings. That was the Exhi- bition Runner (?) of eight or nine years ago. loo 'jof American (Stan- dard-bred) Runners and 99 % of English are wrong in shape, and position of legs. Color without type is of no value " Mr Walton has also said that it was ciuite certain that man}' earlier judges of Indian Runners "had no acquaintance with the genuine Runner " It was under this strained situation that the Indian Runner Duck Club in England took up the work, and formed a Standard calcu- lated to preserve the distinctiveness of this most remarkable breed. The birds illustrated in English poultry journals at about this time, according to Mr. Walton, "showed strong evidence of Mallard blood." It was within the decade before the English breeders found their bearings that most of our earlier importations were made. This shows how strong was the probability that many of these earlier importations were of mixed blood. It was about or just previous to this time that the Indian Runner Duck Chib intervened to save the Runners from extinc- tion as to their most distinctive characteristics It superseded the Stan- dard formed by Mr. Donald and Mr. Digby, (with which there had been dissatisfaction for some time) by one better designed "to retain the valuable utility and artistic qualities" of the breed. A part of its object, as stated, was to keep the exhibition of the Runner "free from dishonor- able and fradulent practices. " In order to get at the English ideal of shape, it may be well to give a word to "the old, cod, soda-water bottle." This bottle, whose 10 form is given as a general model to wcrk toward, tapered toward each end. The taper is gradual, in the bird, from the thighs back Mention is made of the funnel-like expansion where neck passes into body The accepted angle of carriage is up to sixty-five degrees when the bird is traveling, and from this to seventy-five degrees when alert. The neck is a strong feature, the head and neck together carrying thirty points Length, thinness, and fineness are especially demanded. In these points, the great majority of American Rvmners fail, breeders seeming to overlook the added beauty and grace given by a slender neck I shall not trv to give the English vStandard demands in their en- tirety, but will refer to those which need study, in view of the swinging away in type and color by the American Standard, and by the birds shown in America. The color demanded in contrast with the white is a fawn, rather warm and soft, sometimes expressed also as of "ginger color" a term which the American breeders have adopted, but which I have not seen in the American shows. The newest males shown here are decidedly of a pinkish, rather than ginger tone, a shade which carries Pen of selected descendants of nestlings shown in another cut. From the earlier importations, and bred to English Standard. Young stock. Mature coat was just completed. Seventeen weeks old. Will become more .'^lender with more age. directly toward the claret which is disqualified by the American Stand- ard. The color is required to be uniform, from surface to skin. The chief variations Lietween color-tones, from English and Amer- ican poi.its of view, is in the head and ramp of the drake and the body, fawn color and overlay on the shoulders. The last point is often stro ag- in color, the pencilings being rather distinct, but they are supposed to blend into a W3.rm fawn of the true shade desired, when seen from a short distance away. The trick in getting color on the English-bred Runner, is to get one tone a good ginger, and the other as near it as is possible, the outer portion being the lighter As this is the portion most visible on the breast and body, it gives the appearance of evenness, as soon as the new coat loses a little in strength of color. If too weak in color when the new coat is first donned, it will be washy in the ex- treme after a few weeks, and will well justify the term so often apphed to the lighter birds bred to American Standard, "a dirty white." This loss of color is one of the worst things that can befall a true Runner. 1 am loath to use the word "true" at all in speaking of the Runners, since it has been so juggled and made to mean such widely different things "Genuine" might, perhaps, be a better term. The full stern, of the upturning, Pekin type, is considered a de- fect, although this cannot be allowed to count strongly against females that have laid one or two seasons. The rump of the male and its head may be of a dull, rather bronzy green. The English Standard lays emphasis on the point that type must receive greater consideration than color or markings. Short, thick necks, squat specimens, smallness at the expense of the long shape, are decided defects. Slate and dark red in drakes are not favored. It should be perfectly plain to any normal mind that the English type of Indian Runner, being so much folder] than anything in America, justly lays claim to the title of "The True Indian Runner." There are many breeders in America who are breeding as nearly as possible to the English (genuine) Standard, possibly yielding a very little on color in otdet not to have a bird too widely different from the one demanded bv the American Standard. Up to the present, (so convinced were manA" of our judges, even, that the American Standard was not requiring the true type) the English-bred birds have been able to get, in some instances very goad prizes, though not often the best Last year, such a male bird took second at Madison Square Garden. From what I hear, I judge that the ax is to be applied to such birds at future shows. "Whose birds was the American Standard made to fit ? " asked a corresponde it, suspiciously, not long ago. The only testimony given to the public on this point inheres in the advertisements of two of them, that ONLY their birds meet the requirements of the new revision. For months before the latest revision of the American Standard of Perfection, a sustained fight was made to educate the public, and incidentally, the Revision Committee, up to a knowledge of the real type of the genuine, Indian Runners, and of the injury the proposed action would be to the breeders of the English type, and to the breed. Perhaps a dozen breeders took part in this, one being a poultry judge. But the Standard had called for an entirely different type for so man^• years, that the Revisers were simply afraid to give any recognition to the breeders of the genuine Indian Runners. Indeed, it was scarcely to be expected that the Standard-makers would so publicly acknowledge a sustained error Moreover, the known custom in this country, with all breeds, of making the Standard to fit the aims and ideals of the greatest number of the more powerful breeders, stood in the way. It is no doubt true that there are more of the present breeders who favor the "plain'' type of solid fawn, with white, than of the breeders who favor the pen- ciled fawn type This penciled type is not insistently penciled, except when the feathers are first grown, but is rather dimly penciled in two shades so harmonious and so near together in tone that they gently blend into a color which appears as a solid color as the season advances. The cuts shown herewith, of birds soon after molting, will easily give proof of this. . ^3 1 do not think there is, in the ranks cf the breeders of the orig- inal variety, any feehnsj^ of enmity toward the favored American type, in itself. But the feeling is very general I think I may say fairly, uni- versal — that the breed name belongs of right to the original type The other should have come in, if come it must, as a second variety^ with a variety name. It is precisely as though the Silver Penciled Wyandotte sliould attempt to push aside the original Silver Wyandot tc. and make msistent claim to being "the only true Wyandotte " Surely "shape makes the breed, color (only) the variety " Is it not so, breeders ? It is by no means impossible to rectifv this error, evea yet, since there are other revisions ahead And it is the great hope of those who are breeding really good Runners of the White-egg type, that our Stand- ard makers may undergo an operation for strabismus before the time of the next revision. We'd like them to see straight ! t4 Present Show Quality of AMERICAN STANDARD INDIAN RUNNERS CHAPTER III The American Standard type of Indian Runners, as seen in the best shows, is not only a different type of bird from the EngHsh Runner, liut it is in the main decidedly different from tlie ideal which has, up to the present date of writing, beea pictured and described in the American Standard of Perfection The ideals of the breeders have been gradually changing, as to color, and the birds that win now are quite different in color from those that won a few years ago The allowance of gray as well as the preferred fawn, while possil)ly it seemed necessary at the beginning, has not worked to the good of the breed. A far larger pro- portion of males still come with gray breasts than would have been the case could the Standard have demanded, from the first, that fawn should be the one color, without the gray as an alternate I have studied much over the peculiar demands at some points of the American Standard of Perfection, in its dealing with Indian Run- ners. Its ideal pictures in the 1905 American Standard are near the de- mands for good Runners, as laid down by the English Standard. At two points in the description, however, the American demand swings quite away from the English. Where the latter calls for legs placed well back, and makes legs placed too wide apart a defect, the Americ- an Standard demands legs "set well apart." And whereas the Enghsh Standard calls for bronzy green on the head and rump of male the Stand- IS ard has demanded as the ideal, for the 5 years previcus to 19 10 a light fawn color, which must be even throughout the entire plumage, except where the white markings should be seen. The American demand for "light fawn" has now been modified to "fawn" and the color is really a peculiar, almost indescribable light pinky-brown. It is, without doubt, a beautiful color and very much ad- mired; but so much has shape been stibordinated to color-tone of the "fawn" that the winning birds at the great New York State Fair, in .September, 1910, showed nasty, white splotches in the fa wm spoiling the color-marking most decidedly. These birds bore virtually no resemblance to the ideal in the then Standard of Perfection, as to shape and carriage being low in carriage, beefy iii type, and, as one has described this type, "more like a Rouen than a Runner," although not so heavy as the former. In November, igio, I went to the earlier show held in New York, chiefly to study the Indian Runners. These picked birds were mainly very good in the even color now preferred for both sexes — ^really a hand- some pinkish fawn. Only a few were good in carriage; scarcely one had a fine neck; and fully thirty per cent were notably splashed with white in the fawn of the back A neck defect which breeders have not seem- ed to take into account (the proof being that it is so general) is that, the neck being already too short and thick, is made to look shorter and thicker b}^ having the dividing line between the colors too high. It is often cut squarely, but in about one-third the single specimens shown, there was only about an inch to an inch-and-a-half between the cheek marking and the fawn of the lower neck. The Walton ideal sketch shows the white on a slender neck and nearly five-eighths the length of the fawn marking on the side of the breast, at the point where it ex- tends entirely to the square cut in marking across the breast. This gives a widely difiFerent appearance to the bird. The illustrations of Indian Runners in the poultrv publications generally, have not been of a sort to furnish much of an ideal to breed- ers in general. There are a few birds of typical carriage in this country, 16 but they are still very few; I mean of those which will hold the carriage practically all the time The photographs from life commonly publishiCd, give httle hint of the Runner which the "Ideal" in the Standard has shown. The new Standard is to contain a new and improved "ideal Some vears ago, Mrs. Mabel Feint made a pencil sketch from life which was very good for the time, though a trifle too full in breast, not showing the straight under line of body which is typical of the real Runner, and which even the American Standard "Ideal" demands. This cut is still in use in some quarters The photographs I have seen, even up to the present time, have not been, as a rule, as good as Mrs. Feint's "Ideal." She was a breeder of Runners for some years, and the birds she carried are still bred as a distinct strain. In her time, these won over many of those from the more prominent breeders The American type of birds are claimed to be "sports" from birds imported from England. Inas- much as English breeders, for many of the earlier years, flirted with the solid-color will-o'-the-wisp, it would not be at all strange if some of the birds from England at that early date should throw sports But the better English l)reeders have long decried and regretted their waste of time, and the detriment thev worked the breed for a period Ijefore they learned to breed strictly to the typical color I doubt 'that it is possible, in this vear iqTo, tj buy of any Amer- ican breeder, birds that will hold their carriage all the time, except at strictly exhibition stock prices I think this is prove.i true, in the east, w here many of the earlier Indian Runner breeders wefe located, by the fact that so few really good one.s arc see.i, even at the mo."^t importan': shows One needs to handle Runners for some time, and learn their typical carriage and their habits of behavior at different ])erinds of growth not only, but at different stages, in order to criticis.? them fairly. Probabl}- it has occurred to very few that it is almost im- ])ossiblc for a laying bird to hold her typical carriage and form. There is abundant reason for this, wdth the Runners. A single 1. ■ 17 Runner egg ready for exclusion, is likely to weigh three ounces, and the ducks are quite reasonably likely to lay six days out of seven, during at least a portion of the year. Prof. James E. Rice, by experiment, found that a color-fed hen deposited some fourteen layers in the formation of an egg, showing that the egg had been fourteeu days in growing from the pin-head ovule to the two-ounce product of average exclusion. If we may suppose a duck to be 14 da}S in growing, an egg, from the beginning to its readiness for exclusion, and laying six eggs in a week, she must be carrying within her narrow, body, at one time, twelve eggs, of diminishing sizes from the three-ounce finished product, to the tiny, but enlarging ovule, of the egg cluster. It is, of course, impossible to conceive that such a weight of eggs should not change both the shape and the carriage of the female, for the time being. Thus it comes about that we have to speak of these birds as in "exhibition form" and •'laying form," while there is still another period of nearh- half a year, during which they eat so much that they appear rather logy, and assume the carriage of maturity only at intervals. This is during their growth toward maturity, and we need for this period a third term, such as "growing form," to describe them then. One of my correspondents who is very anxious for the true Indian Runner to become well known and well liked, rather re- gretted the fact that iMr. J. \V. Walton's pen pictures of ideal Run- ners were published in this country, since thev show such an exag- gerated type to American eyes that those buyers without experience would be dissatisfied with any average Runner that could now be sent them. I may say, however, that in my experience, no fowl ever sent out has giv^n such good, general satisfaction as the type of English Indian Runners now bred in this country. Xearly all the letters of acknowledgment which T receive, as well as those whicli other breeders have shown me, express the greatest satis- faction with the average birds. A short time ago, I saw one which read thus: "I have never received anything l^y express which gave me so much satisfaction and delight as the coop of Indian Runners you sent me." These were the average run of low priced birds, say at about two dollars each. There is a reason for this in the fact that, although but few of the Runners hold the distinctive carriage all the time, and, being few, are held for the high prices, }et the average Runner will almost invariably show ofif nicely Avhenever frightened, or excited or free lo run and pose. And I have ncxer known an\^ breed which seemed to possess so much of interest for its breeders, whether they were, or were not, finished fanciers. But, there is much more to the question of true type in In- dian Runners than has yet appeared in our survey. More and more, as the years pass, are fanciers falling into line on the declaration that no breed can survive long and prosper, even as a fancy fowl, unless it is first a capital, utility fowl. This may be called. I think, a foundation tenet of The Fancy at the present time. I'ew adver- tisers permit themselves to put forth any claims to trade without supporting them strongly with testimony and assertion as to the superior utility value of their breed, and espec'ally of their particular strain of that breed. Even the story of the superlative fancy value of the "$10,000 hen" must be buttressed by the statement that her ]>rogeny lay at the rate of 83 eggs in four months; and is not this liy implication. 249 eggs a year, with chances of 250 in leap years? On the very day of this writing, I have read, from the pen of Mr. Robinson, one of our leading poultry editors, the statement that, as he sees it. the poultry business, except in such special lines as the growing of soft roasters and of ducks for market, is going- out of the hands of specialists into the hands of the farmers; and. it goes without saying, almost, that the Indian Runner, being a cham- jiion layer and a prolific breeder, v/ill soon cease to be of much use lo The Fancy, through sheer over-production, unless the farmers 19 awake very widely to its valufe. ' The Indian Runner must become — and that very soon — the farmer's duck. In the Runner camp, a rumble has been growinjo- for some little time. During 1910 it has risen almost to a roar. The Runner of the emasculated type called for by the American Standard of Perfection, although lovely to look upon for color, in its best estate, has a great weakness as a producer of eggs for market, in the fact that it lays a large proportion of green eggs (a few call them ■'blue.") It does not need much argument, I tliink, to convince any one with an unbiased mind that the crystal-white egg produced i;y the English Standard Runner is far and away more desirable for a market egg than one tinted more or less' deeply with green. A card that came to me yesterday, written from the very center of the green-egg camp, gives a fair idea of the situation. One may read between the lines as to how the green-egg type has satis- fied this breeder. I quote literally: "Are your Indian Runners the kind that lay white eggs only? Will you sell them guaranteed to lay white eggs or refund the purchase price? Please quote price on SO eggs from * * * * white egg strain." A breeder of American Standard Runners, having had much trouble and complaint regarding the large output of green eggs, wrote to another asking counsel, and saying, among other things, that the green-egg type were not so good layers as the others. The attitude of the recipient of this letter is shown in a brief paragraph from the reply: "It is said in England fully 80% of the (so-called) Indian Runners have very little Indian Runner blood in them, and a still worse condition prevails here, because of our Standard. Ow- ing to this Standard, there are very few genuine Indian Runners to be found." This sweeping statement harks back to the fact that English breeders, as I have noted above, tried so hard to "improve" their Runners that they nearly ran them into the ground, and came near losing the real Runner completely. At i)resent, not onl}- in England, but in her colonies, the feeling of the better breeders against any admixture of outside l)lood is intense. In Australia, the birds that won in the great competition were English, Standard-bred Runners. I\Ir. Dunnicliffe. the secretary for the com]:»etitions, as I note else- where, told me pcrsonall}- that nothing else will be accepted in Australia. 2t Comparison of ENGLISH and AMERICAN TYPES CHAPTER IV For a breed that is sweeping the country with such amazing swiftness, the Indian Runner has received far too Httle really criti- cal attention. It has been bred in England several times as many years as it has been noticed and bred here, and in both countries one craz€ of the average breeder seems to have been to modify it in order to get more size. This is folly, even from the utility point of view, for the minute you increase size } ou increase eating cajia- city, and eating capacity beyond what is needed to produce flesh and eggs is dead against economy in an animal that has a specific, great point, like the -egg-laying tendency of the Indian Runner. Many breeders of the Indian Runner have been calling atten- tion to the proud fact that Indian Runners won the Australian Con- test prize with a mar\-elous record, as announced a year ago. But the majority of them have not a shadow of right to use this as a talking point for their birds, since it was a far dilTerent bird from the American Standard Runner which made these records. Believing that this was the fact, I wrote, some time ago. to Mr. 13unnicliffe, Organizing Secretary, in connection with the Hawkesbury contests, asking him what kind of Runners were in these Australian contests. He very kindly wrote me the facts, which 'uipported my belief. These are his exact words; "The Indian Runners kept in Australia have been bred from stoci< imported fron\ England. The English Standard is followed by all our poultry clubs and shows. As is the case elsewhere, there are people here who breed Rouen blood into them to improve the size, but any trace of this blood in them would knock them out in the shows In thv- matter of laying, we find that any infusion of Rouen blood depre- ciates them, and the best laying records have been put up by birds of pure, English blood, selected here for many }'ears for their lav- ing capacity." The American Indian Runner, being bred to our Standard, has been much modified. The distinctive Runner shape has been subordinated to color, the color lightened, the capacit}- for l)reeding true largely destroyed, and tlie \alue as a layer lessened, all in order to get a' plain contrast to the white, instead of a penciled one. Per- haps the new manufacture is prettier; since beauty is lagel}- a matter of opinion, I will not question that. r>ut we have lost three or four most valuable characteristics in getting it. The English breeders who at one period thoughtlessly risked all these to get size, have more excuse, since they thought this an economic advance. Within a few days, recently, I received two letters, both from strangers, on the lookout for white-egg Runners. One of them said that he had been buncoed, for his "fawn and white" ducks were all colors, many being white. The other wrote: "I got 100 eggs of . this spring, ordering white, but getting mixed colors and small eggs, and most of the ducklings were white. I sent to , and got fine layers of large, pale green and white eggs." One of the firms mentioned by this corre- spondent was a Chicago winner, the year he bought, and the other a firm that has had more write-ups and free readers ^nd puffs than most of the other well-known water-fowl breeders put together. And I call attention to the fact that there were tv/o distinct types, from these two dift'erent breeders of "fawns," into one, at least, of which white blood had been introduced ; and probably some into 23 th€ other also, but more carefully. Neither of them was of the true, white-egg type. There is oue specific point, viz.. length — about the genuine Runner, aside from the carriage, which I have not seen referred to in periodicals in this country, although the Standard does say that the birds shall be long and narrow. The long birds were frequently downed at New York in favor of those showing the light, even [awn, evenness seeming to be the chief item in a good Runner, from the American point of view, in addition to good carriage. Some of our show birds do have fine carriage, but a very large proportion of them in the yards of breeders have lost this through the out- crosses for color. The English Standard gives something definite to go on, .n stating what should- be considered "fairly good weights and lengths;" though it cautions that these must not count alone, but must be in connection with well balanced type. ■ It also recom- mends that judges see the birds on the run before making awards. But I think these "fair" lengths will oi^en the eyes of our breeders. They are: 25 to 30 inches for ducks, and 28 to 36 inches for the drakes. Runners, by the yard, as one might say ! The stern, too, is very different fr^m the P'^kin type so ofteti seen here in the winners. Birds that have laid for a considerable time do get heavier at the rear, but the true shape is quite light at the stern, tapering from the thighs to the tail. This, with the length and carriage gives a bird whose distinctiveness differentiates it from all other types the minute the eye falls on it. This, to my minIood, no matter of whai name. The true Rui]ner is so distinctive that it is more easily in- jured by outcrosses, it seems to me, than any other breed could possibly be. It was certainly not more than 13 }cars after ^Ir. Thomlin- son's first "particular attention" that the first birds were imported into this country. This makes it very probable indeed that the earlier birds imported into America, were very poor birds, from the l)resent point of view of the English Indian Runner Duck Club. As they have been bred to the American Standard now for a numbcT of years, it is perfectly fair to conclude that fev.' or none of the English Standard-bred ducks have been imported in recent years. This would follov.' from the fact that Americans were breeding 25 away from the English Standard. I except, of course, those who are frankly breeding to the English Standard because they believe it more nearly correct. In Mr. Thomlinson's book appears a por- trait of a Canadian duck, "never beaten in Canada,'' sketched — as a warning — by the Secretary' bf the English I. R. Club. The faults especially named are bad carriage, and "wide on legs."' The width between' Ifegs'and the solid fawn which the American ideal demands, are reg.^rded by the English as decidedly detrimental to the breed. "If ihc legs are ]:>laced wide apart, you are certain to get a waddler insUad of a Runner, and if not placed well liack vou get horizontal carriage,^"'- says Mr. Thomlinson. It is true that the English Stand- ard dcmansls an appearance of nniformity of the darker marking/, in t'.ic' body color of the female, Init it states with equal distinct- ness that these feathers may carr}'- two tones, one described as "soft fawn," the other as penciling which is "brighter and warmer in tint. "■■i*It; avers that the overlapping of the feathers makes the f-eitidldis^- appear almost solid fawn, cjuite. even in tone. This (pies- tion dues not come up with regard to the drakes, as they do not show ])enciling, in either type. • f wish more especially, however, to lay emphasis on the dit- iercnce between the two types from the utility standpoint, for here, i believe, the real fight is to be mad^. Numbers of breeders who have had both types affirm that the, English Standard-bred Runners are better layers ; laying earlier, more in numbers, larger eggs, and eggs- of' better color. The Indian Runners of the English type lay eggs of a transparent whiteness not seen, so far as I know, in any otherjjjcggs ofifered for table use in the regular markets. They a>«GragC:rth,rfe ounces, when...the; birds are well kept and matured. .\iu\, they^ are superior to hens' eggs for nearly all sorts of cooking. ■!.;;...<::■:. The American Standard-bred ducks, as a whole, lay a con- siderable-proportion of green eggs, though the flocks vary, possibly, in this, r At least, ;some breeders send out less tha^U; others. I fancy, tpo,;.. that they makei some careful discrimination. At least, one 26 l)reeder sent eggs to the President of the American Poultry Asso- ciation, which the latter reported as being less than three per cent, green ; while to another, who w^as a lesser light, were sent by the same breeder, a lot containing so many green eggs that the breeder was in utter despair, and forthwith turned about and bought eggs ior hatching, of the English-bred type, by the hundreds, hatching iintil late in the season in order to get enough. I have read the letters making these statements. A letter from Connecticut, received after the hatching season 'f P'lO. runs as follows: "This spring, I set a 240-egg incubator with so-called • Indian Runner ducks. Some of the eggs were white, but the majcjrity green. The ducklings arc most anylhiu';- :n color, from white to light fawn. I tlon't want an liiflian Kuniu-r Duck on my -place that lays a gree-n egg. The only thing 1 an.i after is ducks that lay white eggs and are prolific layers. Can } o'.i start me right by telling me wher« I can buy Indian Runner l)uck> that lay white eggs?" The demand 'ior the white eggs only is growing so strong that both the utilil}- man and the breeder ol liigh-grade Standard exhibition birds are demanding guarantees that the strain shall lay strictly-white eggs. The onh t}])e that comes anywhere near this, so far as any testimony I have seen or lieard, to date, goes, is the type bred to the English Standard. Those raisers who are breeding to the Amercian- Standard are promising themselves that they can breed out the green egg b}' strict selec- •lion. I do not say that this is utterly impossible, but any one knows ihat it must be a process of years. And. it has been my experience that when 3-ou breed out one characteristic of a cross, \ ou breed out also others, in time, and get back very near to the original Ijird. In the case of the Runners, this would mean that those now breed- ing to xA.merican Standard would find themselves approaching more and more to the English Standard duck, as thev cull oitt their green eggs for hatching. 27 Calling attention again to the fact tliat the clucks in the Aus- tralian competition were English Standard-bred Indian Runners, J will note a few statements that have been made as to laying ca- pacity of the Indian Runners — the English Indian Runners, I mean. For, I do not think there is a certified record published for the American type. It will be noticed in practically all references to the laying capacity of the Runners, in this country, that little men- tion is made of the records made in the yards of the writers there- of. These figures are simply copied. A large proportion of all the figures given have come from across the water. One big record came from New Zealand; one came from Ireland; several came from Australia. I have two official records made in public work; also, one, made by Mr. De Courcy's ducks; one, made by English ^ bred ducks of an American breeder; one, made in England by Mr. Thomlinson's ducks. The last-named record is 180, made in 1884. Mr Thomlinson states that he has had a few exceed this, in later years. The English-bred, American ducks made a record of 185. The Australian Competition, a public, ofificial report from birds handled at an Agricultural College, was, for the last year, reported as an average of 200, without meat, and made by two pens. Private claims, for which, so far as I know, no proof is shown, run winningly from 204 and 209 to 260, 280, and 288. Sev- eral breeders claim ducks having a record above 200; one states that his birds lay all winter, and one refers modestly to one of his ducks with a record of 200 eggs in nine and one-half months. This is only 21 a month ; many Runners are fully equal to this, during the favorable months. The rub is to get it during December and the moulting period. The 288 record was made in England, and I do not know what proofs have been given as to its authenticity. But, at least, the "plain-clothes" men, (those who want the plain fawn and white demanded by the American Standard) cannot con- .sistently claim it, as it was made by a "different" duck, 28 off and on, for a year, I ha^e been trying to get some verifi- cation of the record reported here :n 1^09 of 320 eggs from one In- dian Runner duck. Just before this monograph goes to press, 1 am in receipt of a letter very much to the point. It is from James Sinclair, an English writer with whom I recently came into touch accidentally. He has made a tour around the world for the ex- [)ress purpose of studying progress in poultry culture. I have no permission to publish this letter, but I believe that I am not going beyond the bounds of courtesy in so doing, as no limitat.'ons have been laid upon me in any wa3^ The testimony is as follows: "I had the pleasure of seeing the record duck while I was in New Zealand, as I went to see the plant of its owner. * * =^= It is his 'Wonder' strain and laid 320 eggs in 365 days, and 512 eggs in 23 months, going through two complete moults. He had six 'Little Wonders,' bred from this one, entered in the Cambridge Laying Competition, which were only four and one-half to five and one-half months old when entered, and had gone through a com- plete moult. When I left, had put up the good total of 900 eggs in seven months, notwithstandmg these obstacles ; the last twelve weeks' totals averaging over thirty-nine." This average means thirteen eggs per duck in each twc- weeks, for twelve weeks in succession. It is the Indian Runner Ducks' strongest bid for universal notice! Doubtless, the majority of people are unaware that Mr. I. K. Felch furnished a sworn record, some years ago, of a Light Brahma hen having laid 313 eggs in one year. I am certain that the average Indian Runner duck will come nearer her "Wonder" average than will any breed of hens to the "wonder" record for hens. I know of one pub- lished record for an American hen, higher than th'!s duck record, but it was not a sworn record, as far as I know. Straight to the point testimony from the people who are in the midst of the work, and who have to meet difftculties at every turn, is one of the most valuable things we can have to give light 29 on mooted points. Extracts from sumc other of the letters whieli liave come to me dnring- the last few months will show further h.ow l)eople rc,gard the two types. The Viee-I'resident of one of the poultry clul)s writes: "'Give the pul)lic what it wants and v,hat is right, but do not try to educate it up to take only wdiat we have to offer, because it is a fad. People want something that will re- i)roduce itself, and the light fawn color won't do it. 1 don't think the new Standard, dirty white fawn will last." From the far west, a man of eon\-ictions writes: ''I'hrow- ing out the penciled type is an injtistice to all its breeders as well as to the true breed; it is tearing down what we have been building- up for years. Our ducks have won o\er all kinds of so-called In- dian Runners, scoring to ninety-six aiul a half and niiiet\'-^ix and three fourths at state show's. We have been breeding, this l-j'.grs]» type for eight years, and find no fault in them: while the fawn and white proved worthless nnder the same conditions. Why should the Revision Committee wipe either the English type or the .\mer!- can type off the face of the American soil?" Please ni»te that this letter was neither written for publication, nor for ad\ertis ng,. but is the outspoken expression of a man's belief, which he supports i)y his practice. Pie says, also, in the course of his letter, that, th._e American type "has neither carriage nc^r egg-laying (jualities." If any are prompted to deny this last statement I refer them to an excerpt from a letter written from one of those Missouri men who never believe anything unless you can show them. He says: "I have some, mongrels, this year's hatch, from stock claimed to score 96, and some haye neither marking nor type. They a.re white and fawn, but color not distributed as it should be, and carriage little more erect than my Ronens. Have a neighbor who has had no better luck. The eggs were green." The only man I happen to- know^ of wdio has bred the India .36 iin acivantaoe here, as the omelet is not so likel3' to fall, and some hke it better with water than with milk, while the scalded milk is avoided in the case of the many invalids to whom milk seems to l-e poison. System and Forethought in MAKING A MARKET CHAPTER VI Up to the time of the present writing, Indian Runner ducks liave l)een kept so busy in supphing the demand for eggs for hatch- ing, that they have not had time tell, regardless of the class of goods your grandfathers sold. If }Ou have eggs enough to warrant it, put an advertisement into your town paper, offering eggs at a stated price, and telling the po'nts in which they are superior to hens' eggs. When the people have read it times enough, they will believe it. This is the best way to make a market for any poultry products, if you have enough to make it an object. It costs very little, and it enables you to sell birds when they are ready, instead of holding the good till the 40 backward catch u]), which they seldom really do. besides, it yon word your notices to that end. yon are edncating- your possible customers up to your class of product, and when they want stuff, •hey will seek you. While I do not, at jiresent. urge that the Indian Runner be grown specifically as a market duck, our recent experience shows that it can be thus grown, and profitably so. A\'e placed, in the \il- lage paper, a fifteen-word advertisement offering table ducks, at door, alive, at one dollar each. A single insertion sold all we had to spare, within two weeks. A little earlier, Ave made an opening; into the trade of a high class city club, at the san.ie price, dressed. ft makes little difference as to the last, if one have the time for ;he work, as the feathers will more than pa\- foi- it. Inasmuch as ducks, like the conuuoner ft)wls, come about half males, there is always a surplus of these. "Phere will also be a jiroportion of old d.ucks to work ofi", each }-ear. J think it wouhf b.e better, in g;en eral, to send these in one lot, to a city market. Selling anything is a ])sychological exjn'rience. Many are good salesmen, because they have some n;ilural keetniess which enables them to go about it r'ght. Experience may add much, also. And, because it is a ps}'chological thing, it may be learned tliiough a general study of psychology, the results of wdiich will a])pl\ to every ex[)erience in l)usiness. social or famil_\- life. It ^ne eastern tirm is offering, during the anttimn of 1010, highest market ^ate^~ en good poultry of all kinds, and furnishing coo|)s. returning tlu- l-rice of coops when thev reach the store with their CMnsignment of ])Oultr}'. 41 The Indian Runners MAKING HISTORY CHAPTER VII Xearlv evcr\- mail brinqs in(]nin'es as to the \ari(^iis ty])es ()\ Indian Rnnncr, or recitals of experience with the breed in one t}'i)e (>r the other. As to the birds themselves, 1 have little difficult}- ;n replyint^- to questions. As to orio-in, history, etc.. the people .vho have the facts liaA'e varied in their willingness to let the public ! ave them — at least thrtniqh this medium ; and it has had them through no other medium thus far. 1"he ])ul)lic wants these facts :;nd it wants them badly Several of the earlier breeders ,L;a\e uie all the help I asked. 'or this they have my hearty thanks, and I Icnow that they will iiave that of the public wdiich is interested in Indian Runners, as veil. Others ignored nu- request, or answered far atield. To one 'reeder, I wrote thus: "Davis, of Michigan, tells me that you vere one of the original breeders of Indian kunners. i want to -md out just when they came into the L'nited States and who im- • orted them. Do you know who was the first, and whether or not he birds came from England? Also, how long ago? 1 see Mc- •jrew says little is known about them. I know what luiglish breed- ■ rs say, but it seems to me that it ought to be i)Ossil)lc to find out 42 ■-•/here I'nited Slates l)reeders ^dl llieni. and when the first were im- I'Orted. ]i has been i;iven out liere that they eanie from the West Indies, wliieh 1 do not at all helie\ e. unk'ss the two types which we are Ijreedini; at present in lh!s country had a different origin en- tirel}'. Re])ly wouhl \cry t^reatlv assist."' etc. All l)Ut one of these i;uestions was ii.Miored in the answer. J had two ideas in mind in speaking of origin. The West Indian story, which 1 ha\ e refuted elsewdiere, had i^one all over '^Iie C^nited Slates, and, ha\in^ been credited to a reputa])le writer, who was a breeder ol the Indian Runners betore most of us had heard of them, 't was (piite L^eneralh- acce])ted as fact: especiallx by those who did not know much aljout the duck in F.Ui^iand, and what the be>t l*ln;^lish breeders had to sa\- abt>ut it. A[(jreo\-er. !]ri<^-land aiid tlie West Indies lia\e had many dealings, throui^hout man\- }ears, ar.d it was not an incredible stor\ . in the lii.;lu of possi- bilities, that our Indian Runners should ha\e come to us, in part, a1 least, throuf.;h the West Indies. Aside from this, there was the possibility of different origins of different strains. Last winter, at the Xew \'ork show, a man ])rominent in afTectiuL; th.e fate ol Indian Runners in this countr}' by his pid)lic acts, said, in m\ hearjig, that it would l)e \ery eas)- indeed to rcDroduce the Indian Runners l)y the use of two or three of our earl'er l)reeds, — at least as far as the solid fawn marking, on white was concerned. All l)reeders ol fancy lowls kn(jw, after ihey ha\'e a little exi)eri(, iice with breeding and cxhiibiting, that no man dare .-a \ what Itlood is in an\ one strain of birds of any 1')reed, when it has l^ei-n long out of the originator's hands. That "for- eign" blo<:d has been put into the Indian K miner of some strains, no. breeder of e.\i)erience and observation can fail to see. Indeed, it is usuallx admitted, in a general way, aUhough no one confesses ■o ha\ing introduced such blood. W hen a bird which, in its purity, should stand \ ery erect, degenerates into a logy, heavy liird wliich 43 it i.-- very difficult lo breed out of tlie horizontal carriage, there is ;l reason — with apologies to the owners (?) of this clause! And everv experienced breeder knows in a general way what that reason is; When a bird that is. in its purity, rather definitely and ou make your question mark ver}' large. The fancier would not be undul}' dependent on the Standard, if he could dei)end on it not to change just as he got somewhere near its demands. And, when the Association makes a mistake ii is almost in honor bound to stand by it, or to recede from the l.'oint gradually, for the sake of those wdio have done its biddirig, and bred to the false ideal. Nor can it afiford, from one point of '^'iew, to admit that it has made a mistake, although many of it^ members will admit this personally. But the farmer must take what the fancier hands down to him, if he wants anything new m :he way of a breed, and while the association helps him on one hand. it injures him on the other. On the day before I write this chapter, a letter came in tilt- 44 iriorning- mail, from one of a firm of farmers who evidently want to grow up into fanciers. Init can h}' no means afford to ignore the aliliiy side of breeding-. The letter said: "I have some good In- dian Runners, and want to keep only the best. However, my best ducks I cannot take to the Fairs, as they are too dark. Yet, they produce the eggs we prefer, — the white ones." But this man is li^.t so ];adly off as is the one who wants to raise Runners solely for tiio eggs, vvhen such a one chances to get his stock from a breeder >ji the sold fawns. If he gets from these a large proportion of grecii eggs, he is diappointed. disgusted, discouraged, and can get i'"'' i"e dress. On the day previous to the receipt of the above mentioned letter, I recei\'ed another incjuiring about the white-egg sort, arid saying: "I have some of the green-egg kind, but am not satisfied with the color of the eggs."" A large breeder wrote me, the same week: ''An inc|u!rer, an M. D., v^rites to know if I will sell ducks guaranteed to lay white eggs or money refunded ; that he would not have layers of green eggs at any price, nor as a gift; that he would hardly eat them if well-cooked." Of course, this is largeh ;•. matter of personal whim, as far as not eating a green-shelled egg is concerned. But we need to remember that the great bulk of the Indian Runner eggs must shortly be sold to the public at large, few of whom lack personal whims, of one sort or another. It is our business to humor those whims just as far as we may. And we know that the people of much of our country have been taught t'.' demand white eggs; whether it be a whim, or not, does not affect the fact with regard to the call for white eggs. A Texas rancher who thought to take Fortune by the top- knot, as it were, and haul her --into his service, wrote as follows: ■'The penciled ducks are better than J thought. I thought T would order several pens from different parties and stock up on the best. Aly onlv wish is that I had bought all penciled Runners." The 45 Much enlarged to show the delicate Lacing, which does not appear in any ordi- nary photograph. Bred to English Standard, but rather full in breast. OroTATiox: "The two varieties (American and English types) have the same style of carriage. * * All the difference is in color of plumage. "( •' ) Compare the types on these opposite pages and see if you agree with him ! A poor cut, but a good bird. (lucks had converted the rancher t(^ the ncnciltd type, before the\ l;ad time to lay an egg" for liim. The solid fawn is so handsome, i;i the best specimens, that I should hardly expect such sudden con- \ers"on, but I have the Iniyer's own testimony, in writing, as to ihe fact. One or two letters which 1 have in hand are so l)itte" in ex- pressing an opinion about the m.atter O'" change of type that 1 do not think it wise to f)ublish them, even without sigiiatu'-es. One breeder, in especial, stated with hot comment, tliat he would hold to l!ie genuine type, even if they should be disqualified by the .\meri- can Committee, in the revision of the Standard. One letter, from an incjuirer not at all familiar v.''th the In- dian Runner, asks many questions. Among c)thers. ''Are the\" hardy?'" The descriptive adjective "hardy "'usually appears in any iccital of the virtues of these ducks, but no one has enlarged upon it. io my knowledge. When people ask such a ((uestion as this, I im- mediately wonder what they mean by "hardy." .\ble to withstaiul ^now? Cutting winds? Dampness? Extreme cold? ^^'hat is ■'extreme"? We have the light winters of the south, and the 40- degrees-below-zero of the northwest. Wdiich of these is the fair test? Or is it a point in between? I can testif\- to the limit of six below zero. I have seen Indian Runners, just maturng. run- ning in the open, in December's bitter days, with not a bit of shel- ter but some small coops, which they ignored. The yards were strongly wind-swept, and the birds were out all night as well as all day. They sat on their feet, and hid their heads in their rufi's, when it was coldest, and especially during cutting w'nds. No one with any experience with fowls would expect eggs under such con- 'iitions, of course. But the ducks were doing well enough other- wise, and happy as larks, even on the snow, as soon as it began to rhaw. I judge them to be hardier in some respects than any breed •f hens I have had experience with — and that is a great many. 48 "They do not require any shelter after they are grown," is the tes- timony of another breeder. Nevertheless, all who expect to get eggs at the north in the colder months must provide shelter, and see that the birds do riOt stay much in cutting wind. Too close shelter is not desirable, especially for breeding stock. All poultry yards, whether for hens or other birds, should have shelter on the sides toward the prevailing winds ; this is only common-sense. Hedging, shrubbery, low-branching trees — ^any of these may afford the shelter needed. I think there is no doubt that the Runners would prefer a shelter consisting only of a roof, with thickly-branched shrubs for one or two sides ; for they are very suspicious, and are much wilder when enclosed than when free to go about. Whether this would be warm enough to permit lay- ing, I am not sure; think it doubtful, at least in the three worst months. The breeders who report that their birds lay "remarkably well" during the winter probably do not house them on the hither side of an iceberg; though even that would be more comfortable, it may be, than an open sweep of cutting winds. Think a minute ! Even inside your dwellings, unless very warmly built, a keen gale will make forty degrees difference next to the windward sides. How much more bitter will it be outside ! I see that one enthusiast says that hotels and restaurants will not use any other sort of eggs if they can get Indian Runner duck eggs. There is good sense behind the statement — -regarding it rather as a prophecy — because these are the places that must often consider quantity ; and in any table portion where eggs enter in as (juantity, and not as eggs in natural form, two duck eggs will always take the place of three hens' eggs, so that these caterers reed but pay for eight, instead of a dozen, to do the same work. As to the horde of bakers who are said to have been using rotten eggs lately, the Indian Runner breeder looks for no custom from them. He will prefer to stick to the hotels and restaurants 49 which "will not use any other kind" but big, sweet Indian Runn<)r eggs. , '■ ,;,;,-., :, , Messrs. M. and S., Indian Runner breeders of, the middle- west, both of whom have kept both types of Iiidian Runner, testify to their experiences on.jthe.-5amq page of a 1910 number of Qne. pf our poultTy pa.pers. Mr.. S. states that he can fii|d no difference in the laying quality of; the two types, but refers to |h|e. tendency, of the laced birds toward a dark head and rump, as a defect. But, this is exactly what the Standard they are bred to^deniands them to have. , ,, Mr. ,M. on the contrary, says, that the -Ificed birds ,are super- ipr to the solid fawn sort in hardiiiess, and in the ■" prodvictipn of more and larger white-shell^d,,eggs." He also says that when the Indian Rui^nner comes to be bred, for market eggs mainj.y, "you must liave a supply of large,, white eggs to please- the trade and obtain the highest price." Ten times its weight within the year, is; what he avers that laced du.(;ks of this breed, properly handled, will produce. He bases his preference fundamentally on the fact that the laced birds are the stronger birds and tije bettef; layers. Mr. S. again, finds the solid colored birds easier to breed to Standard requirements, and thinks this is a virtue; while Mr. M. reiterates that it is the largest amount of wdiite-slielled eggs that the people want, and, thus stands for the English-bred- penciled birds. These, he breeds largely, and sells at good prices. If I have not, on the other pages of this book, made it suffi- ciently clear that I have no wish to coerce the fancier who likes the fawn and white birds into raising anything else, I want to do so no^\^ , But, I. have seen his birds where he shows his best. I know them to be inferior to the original type in several respects, because he has too far ignored true type» in a craze for a certain color. In doing this, as all know, he breaks, like many other breed- ers, a fundamental rule of the law-giving Association. But what , .SO of that? Is he not a fancier, and may he not do as he fancies? Neither, for any cause, would I put a handsome bird out of existence; but I certainly would oppose her shoving aside the real claimant to honors; especiallx' when it means that many a farmer, caught by the name and the fame of the "Indian Runner" will be deluded into ^buying, -ihe green-egg "solid fawn'.' type, only to "tear his hair" when these birds begin to lay. I first took this breed up to test it for the benefit of the thousands of readers of a prominent farm pajier. I found it better than I expected, and I found many more people interested than I :iad looked to see. It is because of these people, and many others like them, who will in the future want to know as much as possible about the Indian Runners, that I have ventured to dififer from that great and wise body, the American Poultry Association, and many of the good fanciers who compose it and to make that difference public, so that well-informed buyers may know what they are do- ing. 5t Best AU-Around Handling of THE BREEDING STOCK CHAPTER VIII There is a knack about the handling of ducks which has to be learned. It is fortunate that it can be learned quite readily from the literature. Much of it lies in knowing just where ducks differ from hens, in their requirements. The love of ducks for the water is well known, and the very fact that they fall in the "Water Fowl" class affirms it. Still, it is very difficult to some to realize that ducks always need drinking water before they need feed ; and, on the other hand- it is difficult to realize that ducks can be raised virtually as land birds, with no water but that which a tub may hold ; and that, if ihey have good grass range, they wall not seem to suffer material deterioration. It is, of course, much harder to raise yarded ducks without running water, since they love to play in water, will waste much that is provided for them, and cannot he neglected in this matter. If they are without drinking water a single half hour, they become uneasy, noisy, and obtrusive of their sufferings. In small quarters, ducks are said to be, in general, the most easily 52 managed of all domestic fowls; (som^ say, the most profitable. also.) I saw an instance of this, as far as it relates to housing, which was a revelation as to the easy adaptability of ducks to the conditions wh'ch they must needs meet. The duck shelter to which J refer was just a one-room, dirt-floor, double-pitch arrangement, the upper half of the usual siding being replaced by wire netting. The floor measurement may have been ten by tw^elve feet. Through the center, lengthwise, nearly the whole length, ran an alley. Ai one end and on the sides of this alley, were, I think, seven pen> for ducks. The cat was not there to be "swung,'' but I am sure there was not room in any one of these divisions. Yet, the ducks teemed to be doing well enough. The matter that saved the situa- tion w^as that the shelter stood at the head of a steep slope, and there was running water at the bottom to which the mature birds had continual access. Such confined quarters ("sevenths," rather) are not to be advised; but the story shows how especial care in one direction may oft'set, when necessary, some neglect or lack in an- other. Duck houses are of the simplest construction, and about the only need is a roof with three or four walls, and some rather deep, clean litter. Many times, they prefer to sit out, entirely exposed to the weather. But this is a matter which affects their breeding value muchj^in some seasons. A valuable breeding bird requires comfort, and if she have not a comfortable shelter and warm litter, many of her eggs will be wasted through chilling, during the early part of the year. One should not forget that, although ducks are water fowl, they need dry shelters and drained soil, at least near their sleeping place. I have seen ordinary puddle ducks, probably once kin to the Rouen aristocracy, sit all night in the dead of win- ter on a pond, just where it was fed from a living spring. But these ducks were not expected to lay until March. S3 MAKING A VIGOROUS BREEDER The foregoing remarks indicate the general handling which goes to the making of a vigorous breeder, or, a vigorous layer. The market duck is handled differently while growing', especially in the matter of feed. The very sweeping statement has been niade that there is only one duck for profit, as that one is so far superior to all the others. But this statement was penned eleven vears ago, when the ver}^ name of Indan Runner was practically unknown in this country. More recently, an extensive grower of the big, market ducks has told me that, in his opinion, there would never be any market for the Indian Runner. Fortunately growers of Indian Runners are disproving this to some extent, although at the present writing, these ducks are unknown to the majority, prob- ably, of city commission men. Indeed, in New York City itself, T have found only one firm familiar with the Indian Runner by name. The author of "Poultry Craft" says that exclusive duck farming can be made profitable only near a large city, wdiere there is, a good demand for ducks ; a few ducks, he admits, can be grown profitably almost anywhere. The same author says that, on large plants, th'C estimated cost of growing is up to eight cents a pound, and that special duck farmers would soon have to go out of busi- ness through the very fouling of the soil, and its consequent un- healthfulness, did they not use the latter part of the summer season m making it sanitary through the use of growing crops. Fortunately, the Indian Runner can make good so fully in a single, special line, that of egg production the year around, that we scarcely need to listen to the market men, no matter what they have to say about real, market ducks. The Runner breeders will have only to dispose of their worn-out layers, and the Runners lay well until several years old, according to testimon5^ The feed, then, will not be that of the market duck, but that of the breeder and layer. One part green food to two parts 54 graia mixture is the general rule to produce a well-framed duck. All will be fed on this basis till, possibly eight weeks old.. After this, the market ducks needs more corn in some .form. The stock to be grown on is kept on about the same ration right along till it is time for laying to begin. It is understood that meat is always led after the ducklings are a few days or a week <)ld, the amount being, increased as the birds get larger. Ten per ceiit is about the average given to the ducks well started, wdiich is sometimes in- creased to twelve per cent just before fattening time, if they arc to go to market. If a single article of food were to be mentioned as of more value to duck breeders than any other, douljtless it would be bran. Bran, however, differs, in these times, .from the older niill product, and modern brans are not all alike. I wish to impress especially the need of securing a good grade of feeding stuff's for ducks. Tainted meat, or moldy ground stuff' will work quick'hayoc with ducklings, at almost any age. Some time ago, a correspondent \yrote to in- quire what could be done for the ducklings, which had suddenly begun to die by the score and almost by the hundred. Every pos- sible point of failure was canvassed, but handling seemed to be correct upon all, till we came to the question of spoiled feed. Then it came out that a mill which had been relied upon, was putting- out a product made from grains that had virtually become rotted in the fields. Ducks have a desirable quality in the fact that they will not eat when really sick, and thus they have some chance to recover. The universal testimony is that a duck well-hatched is as good as raised, after one gets the knack, and the chief diSficulty in raising ducks inheres in their greedy desire to gorge themselves', combined with neglect, by their owner,' to make sure that they always have water to help them at this weak point. Dry feed and withheld water are the duck's w'orst combination foe. Considerable can be 55 done to ward off trouble by soaking the cracked corn which is used, for an hour or so before feeding it. (The only point to watch out against is letting it ferment in extreme warm weather.) Being then swollen before it is eaten, it will not make trouble by swelling nfter being eaten. The duck has no crop proper, like the hen. The feed is passed into the stomach, and thence through the other or- gans of digestion. The duckling eats eagerly and often. This is, no doubt, the chief reason why it does not do to use too much hard, dry grain, or to omit water at any time. We have found much satis- faction in feeding stale bread soaked in milk, in connection with bran, for the first few weeks. Cracked corn is used for one meal a day, and clover, cut sweet-corn stalks, grass, rape, weeds, cab- bage, beet pulp and other things that may be handy, help out the growers who may not have grass range. The matter of shade is one which must never be overlooked. 1 have seen, on farms where there was abundance of delightful shade, both duck and chicken coops located out in the open, under a broiling July or August sun. At the same time, the shallow water dishes were entirely dry, it might be for hours. Such ducks and chickens are pre-destined to die of mysterious (?) causes, and none can ward this off till shade and water become a part of the constant conditions under which they grow. Ducks are very sen- .'•itive to the heat of summer suns, and I have seen even the less sensitive chickens thrown into convulsions or limberneck during the awful heat of midsummer conditions without shade. The best of things can, however, be overdone. The one safe way is to make both shade and sunshine free to the younglings, and let them choose for themselves which they will take at any one time. It is not necessary, as one breeder did, when told to provide shade, to coop the ducks so that they could not get from under the dense shade of an overhead grape arbor. Even summer days vary much, and summer nights become as cold as autumn, at times. I have worn 56 mittens on the fourth of July, and e\en then suffered with the coM. in New York state. An exception, of course, but one never knows when an exception may arise. Forethought is one's best defence, and must be a continual part of the poultryman's panoply. It is altoi^ether better to feed and water outs'de the slulters, except under \ery unusual conditions. All who keep ducks under cond.'tions which require yarding, make much use of small grit, and many use charcoal also, at least, occasionally. Charcoal is espe- tialy good in the case of trouble with indigestion. But, inasmucli as the old saw about locking the barn after the horse is stolen ap- plies V ith great force to ducks, the wise duck grower studes his conditions carefully, and so plans as to render impossible, those things which are likely to make trouble in the duck yard. One careful grower known to me who would by no means be caught napping about anything in the regular preventive line, has lost a large bunch of ducks through hunters; another, through the ducklings having eaten rose beetles. The sexes are usually about equally represented in the young stock. Occasionally, a freakish hatch may be very unequal. One buyer, in 1910, reported one duck and nine drakes raised from one setting of eggs; while another, more under fortune's care, ap- parently, reports, on the very morning when I am writing this chapter, three drakes to nine ducks. One breeder suggests that beginners could more easily enter upon poultry culture with Indian Runners than with any variety of hens, because they "would meet with but few of the vexing problems and setbacks that would fall to their lot if they tackled chickens," The first requisite in handling, he says, is to get pure- bred Runners, "free from crossing with Pekin and other ducks." To speak definitely of our own experience, I may say that we have hatched and raised our Runners entirely with hens. E^rly in the season, I give not more than nine eggs to a hen. This is equal 57 t(' 1,-) hciis" eg<;s. A ne^t with a sod or earth l)ottom is l>est. The cL^i^s are supposed to liatch in 28 days, but I have had a brood all cut and in the coop before the end of the 28th day. The ducklings ie(|uire little feed the first day or two. 1 do not try to feed th-eni liii ihcy be!.;"ii to look for it, for they do not need it earlier. They >liouid ha\e water in a shallow dish so that they cannot get wet in it, and this means rehlling it often. The first feed is stale bread soaked in sweet milk, if I couldn't get th s. I think, from m>' present knowledge, J might feed Spratt's Duck feed, just at first. \lier a very few days, 1 add to the soaked bread a little bian and middlings, a little ground corn and oats with the hulls sifted out, ;in(l some clean sand or fine grit, just as soon as the)- will eat it, I Work in succulent feed in the way of cho )ped cabbage, lettuce, rape oi siuiilar greens. If the green juicy stufT is not available, scalded eut clo\er is excellent. But something of this character is impera- lixe for ducks, unless they have aljundant good pasturage. I feed fi\e times daih' for the first few, weeks, and mix in a little sand once dail\ . At least one feed is of green stufif. After a few days, ] add a little good beef scrap; the less milk the more scrap. Don't use scrap that smells like fertilizer. And be sure all feed is sound and sweet. If the milk sours, I would make it into curds and mix with the other ingredients, and use a little more bran in proportion. The ducklings are very sensitive to cold and wet for the first iew days of their li\es. They must have protection from storms till they are feathered. 1 have found them so nearly drowned by a >udden, hard shower that reviving them seemed liopeless. But drying and warming them by the kitchen range put renewed life into the chilled bodies, and they seemed none the worse for the wetting. Their recuperative powers seem to be great. They will reach the point where they do not need the hen sooner than will chicks. But they should always have some shelter to which they can retreat. An open shed seems to suit them admirably. 58 R A shcd-l ke house, situated on sloping land, usually open to ihc sun, but planned to close at night when necessary and having Lood litter, about covers the real needs, as to shelter, for the 1 reeding ducks, or the layers. Concerning the most deeply interesting point, as to how ireely the Indian Runners will lay in the "off" season for hens" eggs, testimony varies so much as to convince me that ^t is quite a matter of handling. Mrs. Harshbarger's ducks lay during the moulling season, iind on into the extreme cold months. She reports 75-/o of them !a\ing by February 1. She states that her (large) Hock averai^ed ' *^ eggs per duck in 108 days; also, that the eggs laid during the h\-e poorer months of the year will "more than ])a_\' all expenses of feed, shippiig baskets, printing and advertisings for the entire }ear." Mrs. Brooks's birds lay during the moult (to a lesser extent than in spring, of course) and she ships eggs for hatching in No- \ eml)er, the sparsest month of the year for hens' eggs. One breeder, writing in November, says: "Every mail brings reports of ducks from my eggs laying." Judge Clipp says that he' sees duck eggs in the exhibition coops of the Runners at midwinter (even after trying shipments). The early hatched may begin to lay in July, and "anybody's" will lay in February. Mr. Hurt says that the very slender neck, long, th.n body and alert carriage characterize the best layers. "The White Queen," the best bird I have seen in America, as regards genuine type, may well serve as a model for those who would fix the correct type firmly in mind. Compare her with Walton's ideal sketches, published in this country in May, 1910, and see how 1 ttle she lacks of meeting them. She is, in fact, far more beautiful. Having a good, laying type, one needs to provide comfortable housing at night, a spot sheltered from winds during the day, and 6o liberal rations, with a goodly proportion of meat. This sums up the matter of the egg harvest, I m st not, liovvever, leave any one with the impression that only one method ot feeding will do for Indian Runner iJucks, or other ducks. The methods most commonly recommended in handling ducks have been gleaned chieiiy from the handling of the men who raise them commercially, for the sake of the carcass. They are the methods of those who yard their ducks, and push them almost beyond reason when they are to go to market early. On the farm, especially where there is abundant room and nat- ural water privilege^, one may do differently. I am accustomed to a rough mental grouping of feeds which is easily possible to any feeder. It includes the starchy feeds, which are heat and fat makers, (includ- ing fats themselves with the fat makers, at a higher value); the muscle and egg makers form my second group; the green feeds, clover meals, vegetables, form the third. If birds are on free, good range, we need not think much about this third class. If not, we must make much of it, and use its members in large proportion. We must remember that grass is not the same as hay. because it is so largely water. Propor- tions may be roughly in one's mind, something hke one part of muscle- makers to two of fat and six or seven of the starchy things (which means, mostly, the grains in their natural state, unground and undivided as to food values). To produce eggs, one adds a larger pro- portion of the muscle-makers, like peas, beans, meat, etc. This is all that is necessary for a feeder to know, except whether any special feed ranks high as a muscle- maker or a fat maker. It is really the base of that far more elaborate thing called "scientific feeding". A very practical difficulty which meets the handlers of laying ducks is that, in mid-winter, the ducks, being largely night layers, must be in reasonably warm quarters, or the eggs will freeze. Breed- ers of ducks especially noted for laying should, therefore, plan foj- 6i warmer housing than others find necessary. This does not mean that they must provide close, stuffy houses, for these will not work for tie good health and vigor of the stock. The best thing any one can do to make his shelters warm for stock of any kind is to locate them where they are sheltered from wind. The closer they are to shelter on the windward side, the warmer they will be. A second good aid toward the needed warmth for laying ducks, is deep, soft litter. If this occu- pies only such portion of the floor as will accommodate the inmates comfortably, they will group themselves there; as they are very partial to a nice bed. Thus, their bodies will keep the eggs warm, and early rising on the part of the handler will do the rest. The one who handles our ducks recently planned some very simple houses, which have been put up experimentally. They are really only deep sheds, being six feet on the front and 12 feet deep. The height at the front is six and one-half feet, and at the back it drops to 40 inches. The houses are boarded closely, and covered both on roof and sides with one of the commercial roofings The front is entirely filled by two curtains which drop against the strip binding the house in front, and which open flat against the roof whenever desirable The more they are up, the better for the birds. This house has been planned to meet several difficulties which experience showed. The door is on the side, rather close to the front. It is double, having an outer solid shutter and an inner frame covered with wire netting. The depth of the house is to permit the easy hand- ling of litter which I mentioned; to allow, also, feeding near the front on stormy days, and to protect from inblowing wet and snow. The curtains are of cheap muslin. A man who had used duck, which used to be so much recommended, told me that he thought the muslin much better. The duck does not permit sufficient influx of air, he said. Were it not for the color and weight, which darken the inner house somewhat, I should use loose bagging, nearly always available on the farm at no cost. We do use it wherever possible. 62 Ever since 1 have taken special interest in poultry, Mr. Hunter l^.as been trymg to druin it into the heads of all whom it may concern that the three j_oints necessary to winter eggs are early hatching, good "growing" and pullets for a stand-by. In similar way, I might make three i,o.nts for ducks; early hatching, proper feeding, comfortable housing. V\ ithout all these the duck will not give returns in winter. The ver\ word, ''returns" points to the fact that she must receive first Let no breeder forget this. Even when she has given her returns in eggs, it yet remains for her owner so to educate or to select his market that the cash returns shall be of the best This matter is one in which our southern people siiould be especially interested, as they have the best chance, on ac- count of their climate. In March, 1910, a produce reporting paper gave 22 and one-half to 23 cents as the lowest price for hen's eggs, reached up to the date of report, during that season. On the same date it was reported that duck eggs were beginning to move, toward the New York market They were classed as "Baltimore" eggs, though some came from Tennesses "and other western points " Baltimore duck eggs were reported as bringing 42c. at the same time that hens' eggs were bringing a cent or two more than one-half this price. When we have actual market reports showing what is possible in the line of returns from duck eggs, at least during a portion of the season, we do not need to guess. And I note that southern inquirers are plentiful, and eager Europe sent us a good many cases of eggs last year. Shall we not rather raise our own ? I note in certain market news that prices drop to "almost one half" on duck eggs, after Easter, But, if this one-half is even then equal to the price of hens' eggs, no need complain very bitterly. The market for duck eggs has to work itself out, but it seems to be doing very well at present. And I think it may be expected to improve steadily, once the Indian Runner eggs become known in city markets. Ignorant old New York will get them after a little, and learn something to her advantage ! 63 Some Spurious and Some GENUINE INDIAN RUNNERS CHAPTER IX By Mrs. Andrew Brooks. [Mrs. Brooks is the friend of the Indian Runner. She lives on a farm and knows farm needs, and she is a true fancier. She has done such valiant work in trying to preserve what ^he believes to be the only "true" Indian Runners, and to introduce them here because of their economic value, that we have asked her to write something of her views of our monograph. C. S. V.] As Indian Runners have been in this country only a few years, and an unjust and misfit Standard of so-called "Perfection" was made for the breed, practically disqualifying true Runners and standardizing mongrels, the present mixed and confusing state of affairs is not surprising. In making a standard, attention should be paid to nature's laws. This was not done. It is an established fact that the natural colors of Indian Runners are fawn and white, the female having penciled plumage, while the drakes have cap and cheek markings of dull, bronzy green with rumps bronzy black or brown, turning dark brown or fawn when coat is old (the shade depending upon 64 ilie length of time that has elapsed since the molt, but never the same as body color). The American Standard has demanded the same color in both sexes, namely, "light fawn," even throughout. Such a standard places a premium on faking: blood foreign to the breed was bred in to secure light fawn color with no pencil'ng on ])lumage of females and drakes having head and rump markings the same as the body color. As would be expected, this addition of foreign blood has brought about grave structural changes, altered the color of the eyes, also the color and size of the eggs, besides les- sening the number of eggs. The chief value of the Indian Runners lies in their capacity to be veritable egg-factories of large, white, marketable eggs. As layers of such eggs, and as foragers, the Standard hit them hardest, requiring wrong posit'on of legs, de- stroying the characteristic Runner gait and making less able forag- ers of them. The new Standard may possibly be an improvement «>ver the old one in some respects, but I understand that it demands the brown eyes, which have been acquired in making over the breed lo conform to standard requirements, and to produce the recpiired color of plumage. ' A shade in color of feathers would not much matter but it should not be gained at the sacrifice of utility value. Longfellow in The Builders said: "Nothing useless is or low '^' Each thing in its place is best ; And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest." This applies to fancy and commercial poultry; for, it should be remembered that the whole poultry industry is a structure rest- ing upon the "firm and ample" foundations of economic value. If we tear this down and destroy utility, how long will the industry survive? I have had much correspondence with Indian Runner breed- ers in all parts of the United States and all their testimony proves 6s the same thing, viz., that eggs from the light fawn American Stand- r.rd-bred ducks are laid in fewer numbers ; such stock does not be- gin to lay so early in the season by some weeks ; also ceases lay- ing earlier in the fall : while true Runners do not cease entirely, even during the moult, as I can testify from experience. A worse fault, in the light fawn ducks, is that they mostly lay green or tinted eggs of smaller size, that do not sell for so much. Our best markets call for white eggs, and owing to their mixed parentage these light fawns cannot reproduce themselves reliably. All m}' correspondents tell the same story of sending for eggs at high jirices (naming the most i^romint-nt breeders;) of getting green or tinted or mi.xed colors of eggs that produce ducklings which sho^\' lack of uniformity, some 1)eing mostly yellow, some I'ght and some (lark. One man wrote: "1 want to acquire a flock of genuine linglish Runners that will be second to none. I have had enough of mongrels...! want a duck that will lay white eggs and plenty of them and reproduce themselves in type and markings, instearl of the young looking like they were the result of mixing half a dozen widely different breeds. I'm sick and disgusted with my Inimiliating experience with .Standard Indian Runners. I have them that were hatched from eggs from ducks claimed to score 96 points and there is not one closer to the Indian Runner Standard than is a Rouen." Another, late in the season said he had spent weeks in trying to find eggs from tlocks guaranteed to lay only white eggs and had not discovered one such flock. He judged by the discus- sion which he read in the papers about the Standard that I must have them, and added: "For heaven's sake don't say you have all the orders you can fill." One inquirer asks: "Will you fur- nish ducks that are guaranteed to lay white eggs only, or money refunded?" It is a significant fact that most of such inquiries come from the midst of the country where the light fawns are most extensively bred. Another writer, who met with disappointment 67 in tryiiit; to breed the American Standard, wrote of buying the Mightst priced birds the most prominent "l;ght fawn" breeder would sell, keeping them side by side with real Runners with the same care and feeding, only to find that they were not so valuable ;;s the ducks they were trying to displace, as they were so much poorer layers, and of tinted eggs. Hundreds of ducks lay ng green uv tinted eggs are kept in some fiocks. The eggs are scattered :)roadcast all over the country to purchasers who believe that they ;;re buying Runners, innocently supposing that "Runners are Run- ners," and not knowing that there are imitations of the real article, w iiich are sold as genu'ne. I'his is only a faint picture of the ■ilualion. No wonder that true Ixunners are scarce and higli ]iriced. Who can count the cost of the harm d(jne? It is beyond com utation. The fancy and the utility should go to[^elher, l)ut as matters now stand prospective buyers will have to decide whether they will bretd for show and fancy re(|u rements or whether' they want the most valual)le, jiractical duck from the utility point' I if \iew. the ones giving best money \alue. For us, we will concede Standard excellence (?) to the fanciers; they are welcome to the duck the}' have created ! Theirs will answer for exhibition pur- ];oses, as judges must place awards according to Standard. We will concern ourselves with maintaining the breed in its highest type and purity for the farmer and utility breeder. Runnes are nre- (.minentl}' the farmers' breed. They are at their best on the free i.-Mii'e of the farms, as they get along with less care than hens. They are what the farmers need in these days of high priced labor, ivunners will lay as many eggs as the best breeds of hens. No other breed of ducks will lay so many white eggs; none are such foragers, or so capable of gaining a large share of their Kving, thus reducing the cost of feed, and they adapt themselves well to ad- \ ersc corditions. In the eighth annual Australian Laying com;)e- 68 lition two pens of Runners averaged above 200 eggs each. As no meat was obtainable, no an'mal food was fed in their ration dur- ing the time of the test. What hens fed in like manner could have made so good a showing? Meat or animal food is even more neces- ^ary for ducks than for hens. When given free range they find much, of it for themselves, working as they do, busy as bees from morning till late at night (stormy days the same or more so) thrusting their bills deep into the grass, searching for worms or insects. Nothing escapes their notice! A farmer who i- a near neighbor of ours has six Runners, yearlings. Now, in the latter part of November he is receiving 4 or 5 eggs every day and feeds them only corn ; no mash at all. .As they have free range, I suppose the> lialance their own ration. They are kept dry-bedded ;;i night : the first essential in raising ducks. Early hatched young ducks or- yearlings, or older birds, if managed right, will lay as well or better than hens, in the fall when prices are high and eggs most j'ppreciated. I know personally that, with such care as the average farmer can give, they will give flock averages of 150 eggs each in a \ear. The results of the annual duck laying competitions in Aus- tralia are very interesting and instructive, but I am not so much concerned with the records of such tests or the records of individual iavers, as I am in the flock averages of these ducks, when well man- ?'■' Personally, I think it wot!ild 'be only jUst if cfasse's sfioufd be made, at lea:st ih all the largei^ shows, for the Ertglrsh-bred duck, it would be ^he onlv amende that could be made for having taken the breed ham€ away fi'dm this' duck and given it to a mongrel- made' duck. 'It' is perfectly practicable, as I see it, to have classes for tlie English type, and judged by the English Standard. "" ';\sl Write the' clbsing words of this chapter, there comes to ?■'■ 74 my desk a new booklet from a breeder of the "fawn and white'" tpye for the last six years. Referring to the Runners of the Ameri- can type, he mentions their "real value as a layer of large, green and white eggs of much value." He also states that he would j.'refer all white eggs. Inasmuch as this testimony comes from tlie midst of the **favvn and white" camp, surely none who breed the English type can be accused of unfairness or of bias in making simi- lar statements. And for their own trade, they need only to mike it ividely known that they have the strain known to lay white eggs, and trade will run to meet them. \.:^ I^il bur. . .;„^^ihH> t. '. ' b:^ii bSl rSlKi: -5d . . , .f;n ■'•■ \y:y. , , :';jc;i i?.ji - :.-i'.0': y- ^ii^i-'i ■■■ i i:; r ..'r . ,:-.a!.:^ I •■■?■, ■ : . , ^ ■> . li }'■':':' lit 1 .hr : '■■Uvj :ii ',' di :n> V :lfi;mTt '■n- '. ■■ » ji '?''?<'l'HV^ ,'-^f; 7$ Indian Runners Ducks and FARM BREEDING CHAPTER XI A letter concerning Indian Runners which came to me in De- cemb'^r, 1910, saysi^'I've tried several breeders in the north and south to tind one who bred the white-egg duck. One, I believed, and parted with my money, only to discover that I had bought "green" ducks. The breeder claimed she could fill my demand, as both parents and grandparents, for that matter, were hatched from white eggs " Another farmer, who does a business large enough to run about 1200 eggs in incubators through April, and who has recently made a start with English-bred Runners, says: "I have picked out six females, all marked alike, fawn with concentric penciling, and will reserve same for our own breeding. Our females are well taken care of and with good care and attention to them I am looking for a great egg yield. I am going to write up a piece to have published later about a farmer's experience with Indian l^unners. and I hope it will have weight with that class. For if the average farmer can get eggs in winter from the Runners when their hens do not lay. \ou can rest assured thev will have some '' Because I see no future Ijefore the Indian Runner, eventually, except as a farm duck, I am especially glad to get the farm point of 76 view. The ..bove letter was seat on to me by a breeder in another state, that I might see how farm interest was developing. It will be njted that, although the writer carries far more than the average of poultry on a f.,rm, as evidenced by his incubating so many eggs, he is looking for something that can do better in winter than is customary with he.iS. He is of the better claSo of farmers, v»e can guess, because he selects uniformly m..rked b.r.^.s for breeding. He has enterprise, as is shown b}- ti.e facts note 1, and by his plan to write up his experience where it will attract oti.er farmers. Beyond what his letter may thus sh(jw us, 1 know nothing aboat him. But I wish the country was ful- ler than it is of farmers with several of the characteristics which show in this letter. However, dealing continually, in my work with queries from farmers all over ti.e country, I can testify that there are many more of the class who have enterprise, education and good hard sense than people who do not come into touch with them are ready to be- lieve. There are already many types of Indian Runners in the country, entirely aside from the two very distinct and opposing ones to which so much reference has already been made. It is almost impossible for any breeder to put his hand to a breed without transforming it to some extent. This is abundantly shown even in the references to the "strains" of different breeders, and to the differing claims made by advertisers. How are these changes made ? Often- very often, by "hocus-pocus." That is, by putting in a dash of any blood which a breeder may think will bring the birds nearer to his ideal— usually an ideal as to feathers and form, rather than as to production. Produc- tion cannot be ignored, to be sure, but it is made to take at least third place; for color comes first with the average fancier, then form, then, if he has no other hobby to work out, production, possibly. But it is also true that no two breeders can take even the same strain, with birds very similar, and, working enterely apart, show the same type of birds at the end of five years. Each puts his own stamp 77 upon.the breeds or variety. It may be that all the change has been made by selection of eggs. It may berthat it has be'en. made only in the selection Of birds to carry on his work. The fact remains that each' worker is practically certain to put his own special stamp "his mark" upon the birds which he will soon call his "strain " A breeder who was especially anxious to. preserve and continue a certain type, wrote another for birds of that type, to be descended from birds sent out from the yaras of the first, some years earlier. It was made plain that onlyisuch birds were wanted. The testimony of the first breeder to the outcome is as follows: "I asked, before order- ing, if they were just as had of me, and in return the breeder wrote that they were my strain, pure (with the words underlined). When they came and I examined them, I could see that other blood had been used; the pencihng was different, not so distinct, of a prettier shade of fawn.; if anything:; but they were hardly as good in shape and style, and I was in a panic. I thought I would return them, but finally sold most of them-, telling the customers just what tliey were. The remain- ing suspects I shall put iiii.a yard by the/nselves and observe them.'.' Eventually, it came out that the breeder from whom these ducks came had had one male from a third breeder running with the females of the fifstc breeder's stock;' There was no suspicion of intentional error, as far;as I know, for breeder number two was considered honest; but the incident shows both how soon change of strain shows in the progeny, and how difficultit is to get just what one wants and definitely orders. Human nature seems to have a strangely transforming effect on varie- ties of fowls ! . ., 1 •,' ■■■}.:U:,:A 0:i H:.~. .jiiir • •;".:;'.■ Ja4teib*eeder who had had fawn ducks Of. two types, from two breeders-, wrote me: "I am satisfied that I hurt the laying qualities by use of the light strain, (the second lot)." Both these acquisit'ons proving to be layers of green eggs, this. breeder bought birds again, the third lot being from" a' well-known white^egg strain/ Another change 'then made itself manifest, of which he writes: (' "My: -olid' ducks coiild 7S not aiid woul'd not fly u-nder any circumstances like the last onesi One is far ahead of any I have ever seei"f in upright carriage, and I would like to get all of mine Of "that type." :;. There is ohepointer here that-te-woFth noting. The white egg ducks are of the more active type, and also of better carriage than ahytiiing furnished this Ireeder -by two of the very best breeders of the sdlid f^wn strains ' '■''^'' . " Being a very honest man, th^- writer of this letter wasanXioUs to know about the tendency to flying fe Be I'lfSE he had told 'cu^td'mers that a two-foot fence would confinfe'these clucks I chanced tb haVe a personal word to add to the solution of this problem, becaiise I had bred for some time the very strain he reported a:s being' such flyers, and had never used anything but a two-foot fence to confine them, nor ever known them ta fly over it. But it is perfectly 'easy to- train these birds, or any other.s, to be breachy, by using fences too low or too weak when the birds are young and most active. The size of Vards, too,''irlay have an influence' on this especial -eharacteristic. Small yards, which ofTer no good' starting point for -stfong flight; Will often confine th6 biMs— any birds— fliu'ch better tha?i larger yards. Tlia't is, not sucK' higii fences will be 'demanded. It is in the daily and Vearly learning Bf such things as 'these'' as they come along, that any poultry faiser ^ets' "knack" and accumulates a store' of wisdom on intiumersLbfe' points WHth it is simply impbssible to pass on in entirety to any other worker. 'T't'i's one point at a time usually. .• Just' before We go ^ to press with "The Indian Runiier Duck Book," an authoritative letter from' England ife received. It tells of many itiquiHte for cheap birds coming from America and says: "There is rio one with real good type birds willing to sell at utility prices. In fact, I have seeil l')irds for Which ten to tWenty pounds (about fifty to one hundred dollars) was asked, of very bad tj^pe and carriage; in my opinion, fit only foi' thfe j)ot. I think it unfair to ask those who have really ^ood birds t6 sell 'them for killing prices, almost." Concerning 79 one of the newer American theories as to the origin of Indian Runners, the same breeder says: "It is worth framing, as it is one of the most incorrect and ridiculous articles I have see:i, and the writer is entirely at sea. 'The Common Mongrel, etc.,' would have been a more appro- priate title." In this connection, I may say that there is a movement in Eng- land at this writing which promises to develop into the publicatio i of a thorough and reliable book on the Indian Runner, giving all that is now known about its history, from the first to the present time. This is certainly a movement in the right direction, and I shall look with much interest for the purposed publication. The Patent Office at Washington has recently been showing symptoms of interest in the Runners, through an employe. Whether they are to be patented, or not, is not yet announced. If so, many breeders will be on edge to learn which type will thus receive recog- nition ! In other directions, also, matters are moving. I think it was late in 1910, though I am not quite certain as to the date, that a breeder in the east sent a trio of English-bred Indian Runners to the Government Experiment Station of Porto Rico, for experimental pur- poses. It is quite time some one in authority was doing something with these ducks, on this side of the Atlantic ocean. For, if the things which Indian Runner breeders have been saying have been untrue, they would result in uncounted waste of money for the thousands of farmers who will try them. Whereas, if they can be proved true by some of those in whom the farming coitiigent have coiifideice, it will mean hundreds of thousands of dollars for the farmer's pockets. We know positively that breeders in this country, even women on the farms, are making hundreds of dollars from their Indian Runners each year. On the date of January 26, 191 1, I received a circular from one such woman, claiming that her ducks were made to average over ten dollars each in eight months. It is not likely that this was from So market eggs, however. The crying need -at present is for some Exper- iment Station here to make an exhaustive test of both types of Indian Runners for the benefit of the American farmer, on the market egg basis. Austraha and New Zealand are far ahead of us in the things thev do for the benefit of the farming population and the common people at large. But, as these matters depend largely on the common people's vote, it may be said that they are the ones chiefly to blame for what they do not get. The average man does not even know what his government is trying to do for him. And the Government is usu- ally far more anxious to do something for him than he is to have things done, if we may judge by what is on the surface. Professors of Poultry Husbandry, for instance, are jubilant when they succeed, by all the arts at their command, in getting the names of many farmers. This is just because they know the Station can help the farmers, as soon as it gets into touch with them. And the best help must come through work with the farmers, man by man. In the matter of choice of type in the Indian Runner, I am in a position to know that our Agricultural authorities at Washington deliberately threw aside a chance to do something for the farming people in studying the two warring types of the Indian Runner. They assumed that the fanciers were right in breeding to fawn, simply because the fawn contingent was in the majority and slavishly followed the Standard, As an interest- ing commentary on this, a disgusted word from one who has bred Indian Runners for years fits in as nothing else could. He was en- gaged in the practical job of catching birds to fill a shipment and for his own breeding pens. Color study was, of course, a main feature in O. K.-ing, or discarding specimens, and, as is always the case, many birds that looked well on their feet had to be rated as seconds on ac- count of fawn in the flight feathers. I happened to be looking on, and heard his dictum: "Color in Indian Runners is nothing but a humbug anyway, for they change color every two months. How are 3i you going to describe the color fairly when that is the case ? It is out of the question ! And who is going to say which is the right color, that of December, or of March or of June ? " It struck me that this was as pungent a comment on the folly of ruining the distinctiveness of the Indian Runner (because some one happened to think fawn in solid color was more desirable than any two shades of fawn penciled together might be) as could possibly be made. The question must always be, Which of the varying shades of fawn is Standard fawn, and when shall the bird be judged on color, —in winter or in summer ? If in summer, or spring, is must be far too dark in December; if in De- cember it is to be just right, it will be nothing but dirty white in June. And this everybody knows. I saw two breeders selecting a bird to fill an order that called for a high class specimen. The choice lay between two birds, one of which was nearly perfect in color, but was only moderately long in body and neck. The other was of beautiful shape and carriage, but had a flaw in the wing flight. "Which would you send ? Which would you rather have if you were choosing for your own yard ? " said one to the other. "The slim, long bird, every time," was the reply. "What, — sure ! even with the flawed wing, and remembering that it will affect the whole flock ? " "Yes; even at that. I stand for type first." "But what about shipping it to a customer? Would you de- cide on that one to fill the order ? " "No-o, I'm afraid not," was the half unwilling reply. "The customer will be better satisfied with the bird that is better in color." All who have bred Rtmners long know this to be the case; and the reason is that, though Standard law, as generally applied, theoret- ically puts shape above color, in actual practice, color, (when at all hard to get) virtually takes precedence of type, as the birds are judged in competition. And this is what every breeder of Standard birds has to meet. He dares not send what he believes to be the better bird, many times, because custom has over-ridden Standard Law. The very 82 simple reason is, doubtless, that color appeals far more quickly to the average person, than does shape. Many a breeder of years standing, cannot select the birds typical in shape and style. And the pubhc, which sees the shows and which buys stock, is more easily satisfied with the better colored bird, when it becomes a choice between color and shape, unless the shape is inexcusably bad. &3 The Newer Variety THE WHITE INDIAN RUNNER CHAPTER XII The future of the Indian Runners is bound to inckide the \ ariety just coming into sight here, viz., the White Indian Runners. Though but recently advertised for the first in this country, the White Indian Runners promise to interest the public at large so greatly that a few words must be given them even now. In Cali- fornia, in the middle-west, in the middle states, they are already being advertised. One cannot say much that is definite about their quality, as it is likely, it seems to me, to be exceedingly "spotty" for some time. My reasons for thinking thus V.e largely in the fact that the very evident crossing of some of the original importations of Indian Runners with white ducks has resulted in the badly-m'xed speci- mens, showing much broken white, of which buyers of Indian Runners have complained so bitterly recently. There cannot br; much doubt that the majority of White Indian Runners have arisen through some of these crosses. The most likely cross is that of the White Fekin duck. I saw Pekins in a recent very large show, that 84 ■ a^ '" ' . ' i ^ "THE WHITE QUEEN." Peiha[>s the most perfect type of Indian Runner Duck ever produced in Ameriac were as iiprii^lu in carriage as almost any of the Runners, and one sjiecimen in especial that was fully as erect in carriage as any In- dian Runner 1 have ever seen shown. As the Revision Committee's lecomm.cndation at St. Louis was for a body one-fourth longer than ihc ideal presented them by the artist, and a clean-cut throat with- nut dewlap, the Pekin will be even better than in the past, as a ])ri^»mising foundation 'for a cross leading to White Indian Runners. A Runner built on such a foundation would be too broad and thick- set, for many generations, no doubt ; but human nature is such that it would doubtless be used, in the future; as it has in the past, if pointers from experience can be at all relied upon. I wish to call especial attention to the cut of a White Indian Kunner female given herewith. It is by far the most typical speci- men tif the Ideal Indian Runner, that I have ever seen. This bird is, nu)rcover, a straight sport, as far as anything I really know can show. 1 do know that no white blood has been introduced into her ancestry since it came into my hands, some years ago. Other breeding experience would make any of us argue that there must lie white blood somewhere behind her. As to proof, — there is none, ; lid the testimony of her beautiful shape seems to throw the Pekin out of consideration, unless, by some trick of iNIendel's law, we have a dominant white from the Pekin, in connection with a domi- nant shape from a Runner ancestor. But I think Mendel's law, as l;e v\(iuld have had it applied, is being more questioned now than ever ))efore since Professor Bateson brought it to our notice. That is, the nianv investigation experiments, in the effort to prove it a breeding iaw, seem to show it less helpful generally in breeding than was at tirst expected. These White Indian Runners are not an absolutely new prod- uct except in possible specific cases. iMr. H. DeCourcy, speaking of the Runners as they appeared in Ireland some years ago, wrote, in the "Reliable Poultry Journal" that the Runners had been bred for 86 several years by farmers with no regard to type and feathering. "S'et he states that the distinctive features cf the bird were so fixed that they still tended to dominate. I notice that he refers to the "car- riage" as penguin-like, not making the blunder of the American 1905 Standard in saying that the form is like the pengin, which lis posi- tively absurd ! He speaks of three distinct varieties at the time of writing, known in Ireland, and says that the penciled fawn and white — "a beautifully-penciled fawn color," as he describes it — "certainly has a distinctive shape and carriage which the other varieties possess but in a modified form, and it is most probable that both the Brown-and- White and the White varieties have been bred from the original Fawn-and-White, either by the admixture of foreign blood, or bv selection, or by both." This testimony must'be considered by any fair mind aS abso- lutely unbiased, because it was given before our Standard-makers discovered that the plain fawn, with white, was "the one and onlv true." It was published in this country before there was any question of breeding to a solid fawn as far as our Standard was concerned ; though our Standard was fitted to some sports in the hands of a single breeder, — if I am correctly informed, — .soon after. The white bird, everywhere and always, is a popular bird. And, as soon as the public is assured that it breeds true in anv measure, we may look for a strong movement toward the White Runner. Some pretty good specimens w^ere shown in New York in ,November, 1910. 87 ROSE COMB BROWN LEGHORN MALE Incian Runner Drakes compare with Brown Leghorn Males in vigor. Both make unequalled sweet young Roasters. ROSE COMB BROWN LEGHORN FEMALE AND CARCASS Indian Runner Ducks compare with Leghorn Hens for j^reat laying. I fEj ^& iBi^ JSl^^fSSiL One copy del. to Cat. Div. 'tb }9tl. LIBRARY OF CONGRE 002 857 156