THE MUSEUM. 



115 



think they can equal the speed of many 

 of our ducks. Native hunters kill 

 them for their feathers and down. 

 First the feathers are plucked off of the 

 body, the skin is removed with the 

 down. This is sold for trinimin^^s, or 

 made into mats and is very handsome. 

 I was told the flesh made excellent eat- 

 ing and I vowed I would satisfy myself 

 as to the truth of the statement, so I, 

 being my own cook, and having nobody 

 to satisfy but myself, procured a fine 

 large specimen and undertook to boil 

 it. For twenty hours it cooked, but on 

 examination I found it too tough for me 



to attempt to eat. As my only kettle 

 was in use, and my supply of food was 

 getting low, I took a vote, and of 

 course the majority ruled, so taking 

 one of the most delicate morsels from 

 ths po': to chew on till I could boil 

 some potatoes. I gave OI07' cohim- 

 bianiLS the exit out of the \vindow. 

 This was enough for me, and I never 

 tried to cook another, and now I had 

 much rather see the birds enjoy them- 

 selves on the water than have them 

 take the place of our domestic fowd at 

 the festive board. I have often 



watched them congregate just before 



