The Wood Duck 191 



report from Kansas states, "Early in April, 1906, examined a female Wood 

 Duck, killed by a local hunter; the ovaries contained partly developed 

 eggs." A correspondent at Princeton, N. J., states, "In 1905 a pair were 

 killed here late in April, after tw^o eggs had been laid in their nest." Still 

 another reporter, in Utica, N.Y., states, "Saw female killed April 15th, which 

 contained a well-developed egg." A well known ornithologist at Portland, 

 Maine, says, "Wood Ducks reach us mated, and spring-shooting of mated 

 birds has no doubt had a potent influence toward decrease." From the 

 evidence given above, it is fair to assume that the Wood Ducks that are 

 resident in the Gulf states certainly mate early in February, with some 

 evidence that pairing takes place earlier, and that mating has already taken 

 place when the migratory numbers of the species reach the northern limit 

 of their range. It is, therefore, a self-evident fact that every Wood Duck 

 that is killed after January first is a strong factor in the ultimate and early 

 extermination of the species. There are no words too strong to use in 

 condemnation of the unscientific, wasteful and depraved practice of killing 

 mated and breeding birds. A sportsman who has any self-respect or regard 

 for the rights of future generations will not engage in spring-shooting. 



A glance at the accompanying map, showing the 1907 open seasons for 

 Wood Ducks will demonstrate to the reader what a terrible drain on the 

 species spring-shooting is, for the diagram shows that, in the fifty-seven states 

 and provinces, thirty-eight legalize the shooting of Wood Ducks during 

 all or some part of the spring. It will also be noted that six states, nearly 

 10 per cent, give the Wood Duck no protection whatever, but allow it to 

 be killed whenever it is found in the state. It may also be noted that, in 

 several of the states where no protection is given, the Wood Duck is a 

 resident, which renders the entire lack of protection a far more serious 

 matter than if the species were only a summer visitor for the purpose of 

 breeding. Is it strange that by reckless waste, this species of wild fowl is 

 rapidly becoming exterminated? 



Wood Ducks are greatly attached to their breeding places, 

 g, .^ and are gentle and rather unsuspicious. This very fact is 



often the cause for the complete annihilation of an entire 

 family, where summer-shooting is allowed. Several of the reports received 

 give this as one of the important reasons for the decrease of the species, 

 stating that in some cases, even before the open season, entire broods are 

 killed by one or two pot-shots, and that in many sections the entire hatch 

 of a season is killed on the first day for legal shooting. 



There are several other reasons for the decrease that may 

 Other Causes be mentioned, but cannot be considered in detail: the very 

 great increase in the number of gunners ; the marked improve- 

 ment in guns, — compare the old muzzle-loading shotgun with the present 

 breech-loader and the magazine gun ; the great number of gasolene launches 



