CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 573 



The percentage of wild rice and wild celery taken seems 

 rather low; but probably many of these Ducks were shot in 

 places where no wild celery grows, or where there was little 

 or no wild rice to be obtained. It seems probable, however, 

 that the pondweeds, individually or collectively, are on the 

 whole more generally distributed, and hence more important, 

 throughout the United States than either wild rice or wild 

 celery. The latter plants, however, are generally considered 

 to be more attractive to wild-fowl than any other, and, though 

 locally restricted in distribution, may be grown in suitable 

 localities almost anywhere in the United States. 



Wild rice is eaten in all stages of growth by one or more 

 species of North American Ducks and Geese, and practically 

 all of them feed on the seed. It is the main fall food of many 

 Ducks in the marshes where it grows. Usually it is picked up 

 by them from the mud under water, where its germination is 

 sometimes delayed for at least eighteen months by various 

 causes, and, consequently, sprouting grain may be found in 

 the stomachs of wild Ducks at any time of the year. Many 

 species eat the shoots; the leaves and stems are eaten by 

 Geese, and the flowers have been found in the stomach of the 

 Wood Duck. The Mallard, Black Duck and Wood Duck 

 appear to be the greatest consumers of this plant. 



Wild rice is a tall, round-stemmed, flat-leaved plant. The 

 stem is hollow, with cross partitions between as well as at the 

 joints. The base of the stem is stoutly hook-shaped, and 

 from it extend numerous fibrous roots, which anchor it to 

 the bottom. The flowers may be found from late July to 

 November. The lower branches of the flower head which 

 bear the male flowers are widely separated and stand out from 

 the stem, but the upper branches of pistillate flowers are 

 grouped together and erect. The grain (Fig. 22 A) is from one- 

 half to three-fourths of an inch long, slender and uniform in 

 diameter, with ends rounded or pointed. A perceptible rib 

 runs along one side of the grain and a slight groove along the 

 other. The husk of the seed (Fig. 22 B) has six grooves along 

 it and a long pointed beard or beak, the whole grain and husk 

 being sometimes more than an inch and a half in length. 



