Wild-Fowl of Wild-Fowl 



Though the Scaups are classed scientifically 

 among the "Sea Ducks," they seem to me to be 

 found almost as much on fresh water as on salt. 

 A great many of the Greater and Lesser Scaup 

 frequent the large ponds, and take good care of 

 themselves, not minding the decoys nor allowing 

 themselves to be approached. I have seen, and 

 taken, the Ring-necked Scaup occasionally. The 

 other Sea Ducks that come into the ponds, espe- 

 cially during the easterly storms, do not fare so well. 

 I refer to the three Scoters and the Oldsquaw, or 

 Long-tailed Duck. They seem bewildered, and will 

 not usually leave, though it cost them their lives. 

 The gunners soon see them, and paddle toward 

 them down -wind. The foolish Ducks wait for a 

 fusillade in the water, and then secure another, ris- 

 ing toward the boat. At length all are killed but 

 stragglers, which are followed up and shot sepa- 

 rately. Last fall, on October ii, I happened to be 

 in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, near Lake Buell, 

 and began to hear accounts of wonderful Duck- 

 shooting in the lake that day. Almost every family 

 in the community had Ducks hanging up in the 

 shed, — Surf and White-winged Scoters. There had 

 been a storm the day before, and toward night an 

 immense flock of these Scoters, probably lost and 

 wearied, settled down into the lake. Many were 

 killed that night and the next day. A hundred 

 and fifty-eight was the number of "casualties" 

 reported. Wild Geese are also addicted to similar 

 wanderings and disasters, especially in sleet storms, 

 during their flight. At such a time a flock of 

 them, when I was a boy, descended into our gar- 



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