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I.R.D.A.
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The
Arrival of the Indian Runner in
Europe Perhaps the first record of the true Indian Runner duck in Britain is from the 1830s. It was referred to as the “Penguin Duck” by Harrison Weir (1902, p. 693), who used the term "Indian Runner" for the birds that had been crossed with British domestic ducks in the late nineteenth century. This
is one of the most peculiar and remarkable of the duck tribe. Its long,
narrow head on a thin neck sets on a long apparently attenuated body,
having an extraordinarily upright carriage, which last is accounted for by
the thighs, legs and shanks being excessively short and placed so far back
that the bird is obliged to carry itself erect to enable it to walk or
run, which latter it can do with some degree of rapidity. Thus in shape,
colour and action it much resembles what is now called the Indian-runner
duck. The
Penguin duck is by no means a modern introduction. It was imported from
Bombay – said also to be the home of the Indian-runner. Mr Cross of the
Surrey Zoological gardens (1837-8) had several which bred on the island in
the lake. These were of a light and dark tan colour, the ordinary blue
bars on the wing being a dull slate tint. The ducklings were extremely
odd-looking little things, and frequently fell in their attempt to run or
walk fast.
This
description fits the true Fawn Runner. The Fawn-and-white Runners, which
were so popular in the late 1800s, tended to have a less upright carriage.
Professor
Dr Rudolph of Kritzmow, Germany, recently researched Weir’s
reference at the Zoological Society (IRDA Newsletter Autumn 2000). Strangely enough, looking through the then published lists of animals kept in the London Zoo Regent’s park I discovered the following entry for 1837 (p.11): “Penguin ducks. A variety of the common duck remarkable for the resemblance which its attitude bears to that of a penguin”. On my suggestion, Mr John Edwards (ZSL) was kind enough to search through the manuscripts of Daily Occurrence. He found that the Penguin ducks arrived at London Zoo on 31 October 1835 sent by the 13th Earl of Derby who was President of the Zoological Society from 1831 until his death in 1851.
Runners in the Netherlands It is almost certain that viewers from the Netherlands will know more about the early importation of the ‘Penguin’ duck into Holland. Kenneth Broekman has researched records at the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam and found that salted ducks and eggs were recorded as early as around the late 1500s from van Houtman’s ship, the Ysselstein, from the East Indies. If any Dutch readers would like to contribute (in English, please) to the history of the Runner, please e-mail us - or write to Richard Sadler.
Origins One of the most famous naturalists of the nineteenth century had a good idea where they came from:
Alfred Russel Wallace The Malay Archipelago (1856) The islands of Bali and
Lombock,
situated at the east end of Java, are particularly interesting. They are the
only islands of the whole Archipelago in which the Hindoo religion still
maintains itself—and they form the extreme points of the two great zoological
divisions of the Eastern hemisphere; for although so similar in external
appearance and in all physical features, they differ greatly in their natural
productions. *
* * From Bali quantities of dried beef and ox-tails are exported, and from Lombock a good many ducks and ponies. The ducks are a peculiar breed, which have very long flat bodies, and walk erect almost like penguins. They are generally of a pale reddish ash colour, and are kept in large flocks. They are very cheap and are largely consumed by the crews of the rice ships, by whom they are called Baly-soldiers, but are more generally known elsewhere as penguin-ducks. If you want to learn more about the development of the Indian Runner, look at 'Runner Book' on this web-site and read the publications available to members of the Indian Runner Duck Association.
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Secretary and General Enquiries: Chris Ashton
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