214 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
their bills and carry them to the ground in somewhat the 
way in which cats remove their kittens from place to place. 
Consequently, if the lumber is cleared, and no suitable 
trees are left, what is this Duck to do? He cannot take to 
the chimneys as the Swifts have. Still, this Duck, whose 
beauty alone is a sufficient and patriotic reason for saving 
him to his country, might adapt his nesting to other con- 
ditions if it could be protected as the Grouse, Quail, and 
Woodcock are in New England, or, better yet, not be 
hunted in any way for a number of years, so that the 
Wood Ducks, wherever located, should have a chance to 
increase once more and reéstablish themselves. 
‘For, when we come to look closely at the matter, there is 
really no fair hunting, for the killing inventions of man — 
the magazine guns, etc.,— are on the increase, while the 
power of poor game-birds to protect themselves lessens both 
on land and water. Think of it, in some states there are no 
laws to protect this bird, even in summer, and, as Wood 
Ducks are fond of their nesting-places, and are very 
unsuspicious birds, it often happens that an entire family 
is killed the moment the young are large enough to furnish 
the pitiful thing, in this case, that is called ‘ sport.’ 
“ As it happens, the woods on this side of the river from 
above the pond to the sawmill belong to the General’s 
farm, and, Tommy and Dave, the water right on the other 
side belongs to your fathers. 
“Will you not ask them if they will help me to protect 
their birds, if I can get half a dozen pairs from one of the 
Wise Men who is trying to reéstablish them in their old 
haunts ? 
“The Grouse and Quail are growing friendly again under 
