The Langston City herald. [volume] (Langston City, O.T. [Okla.]) 1891-1902, 1895-08-24

beers Of this vari-
ETY. of waterfowl kept. the same Is
true to a more limited extent In
some parts Of Southern Ireland. when
in conversation with farmers n
farmers wives, more especially In cum
berland. I learnt that they pin their
faith strongly to the Indian Runner.
declaring this to be the most p~rohtapie
duck known. This Is due to the iact
that the production Of eggs Is their chiei
object. table qualities being a second
airy consideration. A few particulars
with regard to this variety Will be OF
interest.
Up to the present time Information
with regard to the origin OF the lndiah
Runner has been very scant, n wen
now we n point to any dennlte
particulars respecting them, no, wheth-
er they are bred in any foreign 70 Ntry'
In a small brochure issued by Nif j.
Donald Of Wigton, Cumberland 't IL
stated that about fifty years ago d drake
n three ducks were brought from IN
dia to Whitehaven by a sea captain, but
as the term India. eve today. and 10 a
greater extent fifty years ago, may
mean any place east Of the cape OF
Good Hope. this does not help us as TO
INV NSHhitt pOIt VI bhiphiN"'
chase. am not without hope that this
article may lead some readers in Asia
10 make inquiries on the subject. Mr..
Donald states that the same captain
brought over a further consignment a
few years later, but that they we're not
known to their %introducer by any spe-
cial or distinctive name, having simply
attracted his attention when ashore by
their active habits and peculiar pen
gum carriage"
The first speciments brought over,
and, we believe. the second also, were
presented to some friends In West cum
berfand. In whose hands they remained
absolutely for many years. But, with
that desire for sharing in a good thing
which is characteristic OF the Cum
brians, a large demanl rapidly sprung
up for stock, and thus they have dis
seminated themselves through that and
the adjoining county. The nam given
to them is, first, because they are sup
posed to have come from India, and,
second, that they have a running
gait; hence we have reached the COM
bination Indian Runners"
A breeder Of this variety says that he
considers Indian Runners the best pay
ing variety of duck to keep, except
when reared absolutely and entirely for
the table. For that purpose they are
undoubtedly small. 3 to 4 lbs. each
when fully grown. Whilst they do not
readily fatten, they arc very nice eat
ing. and the flesh more resembles the
flavor Of wild duck, but is much softer
and more easily eaten. At ten or twelve
weeks old the Indian Runner is rs ten
der as a young chicken. The flesh is
~parti-colored, the neck and shoulders
creamy white, and the rest Of the body
much darker. the dividing line being
very clear and distinct.
AS already mentioned. II Is as a lay
ing duck that the Indian Runner excels,
and Is said to average 100 to 1870 eggs
per annum, without any special feeding,
but simply when given hard corn morn
ing and night. when worms are easily
found they require very little food 9TH
er than this. The eggs are OF fair size,
white in shell, Of good flavor, and not
nearly so strong as Is usually the case
with duck eggs. Mr.. Gillett informs me
that he has ten Runner ducks which
have laid TAG eggs from January LIST ia
May 30th Of the present year. which
considering the severe frosts which pre-.
vailed during the first three months, IL
a remarkable result. The highes,
average was sixty-one Eggs from ter
ducks In one week. As a rule, II prop.
erly grown, these ducks commence lay.
Ing when about five months old and Il
they are patched In May and June will
begin to lay before the severe weather
arrives, and continue egg production
right throughout the winter. Early.
Matched ducks are liable to moult In tn,
autumn, and this means fewer eggs II
- --ll~. .rAnNho nV.aE. haL-l A.
first week In March have been known Il
the first week in August. ant
II Is more desirable to bring them on,
so that they will begin in November
Five ducks car be run with one drake
and the Eggs are remarkably fertile
Indian Runners are non-sitters, but, al
in most other breeds In which the ma.
ternal instinct Is suspended, exception,
are found to this rule, but cannot be re,
lied on for sitting purposes.
In appearance the Runner Is length,
and slightly built, with close, compacl
plumage. The fore part of body Is ele
waited, and the head carried high. Thu
type Is found to be the best layers.
The following Is a description of tn,
characteristics Of the Indian Runner:
Beak: Bright orange In color, with
triangular tip Of Jet black. but as az,
advances the orange color become,
spotted with olive green, and fnall,
assumes a dark olive green color, espe
cially in ducks, the drake retaining tn,
orange much longer.
!, Head: OF the drake, above the eve
a very dark brown. with a slight patel
below the eye on each side. these mark
ings being neatly rounded of behind
Neck: Pure white down to near tn,
shoulders, which, with the breast, is o
a beautiful grayish-brown.
Under parts black. and wings pur
white.
Tail: Brown, with curled feather
!. white. and for about two inches abov
the tail the feathers are a very ricl
r dark brown.
! Legs: Orange color.
The duck has similar markings to tn
drake, except that the colored parts ar
a sober brown, like a very light Rouel
duck.
: In summer the drake. as Is the cas-
with Rouens. assumes q colo
! like that of the duck on bach
shoulders and chest. but Is no
quite 80 light In color. Tn
head also becomes Of a more dowd
a color, without that brilliant luste
which ~characterixes the winter plum
age. He also loses the curled feather
IN his tail. which are not replaced unit
after the autumn moult.-Edwar
3 Brown. In London Live Stock Journal
How Butter becomes Rancid.
Butter stored In . warm room or On
y noanA IN aunliaht NAV hecnma ranci