54 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



an' I saw one Merganser with a hood on his head 

 one season I was down in Georgia. " 



''Bnt Mergansers aren't ducks, are they, Bull?" 

 the lad asked. ''They're more lil^e geese, aren't 

 they?" 



"No, they're ducks, I reckon," said the pot- 

 hunter, calming down as the conversation led away 

 from the question of the hated game laws ; ' ' Dad 

 used to call 'em Sawbills or Shell-drakes, 'cause 

 their bills are toothed like a saw an' 'cause they 

 live on shell-fish an' fish, swimmin' under water 

 to get 'em." 



"They're rarer than other ducks, aren't they?" 

 the boy asked. "I mean, pond ducks, like this 

 one — " he held up the foot of the Mallard, "which 

 haven't got any web on the little hind-toe." 



"They're not common like Mallards, Teals, Pin- 

 tails an ' Shovelers, ' ' was the reply. ' ' But there 's 

 other pond ducks, marked like yo' say by havin' 

 no web on the hind toe, which yo' can't spot so 

 easy." 



"How can you tell the others apart?" queried 

 Shan. He had often wanted to get his uncle 

 started on this subject, but had never been able. 

 Now, however. Bull had relaxed from his taciturn- 

 ity. 



