PART WV; 
WILD-FOWL OF WILD-FOWL 
(Ducks and Geese ) 
THOUGH the term wild-fowl is variously and 
loosely applied, there is no class of birds it better 
fits in its suggestive savor of wild, free Nature, 
than that called’ by wnaturalists the ~ Anatidas? 
Whatever are or are not wild-fowl, Ducks and 
Geese are, There are few birds that reyealamione 
their inherent’ wildness im “retiring before= the 
advances of human civilization. How often has 
my gaze wandered wistfully over the surface of 
some beautiful New England lake, searching for 
what was not there, some water-fowl floating 
upon the surface. There were the lilies, the woods, 
the surrounding hills,—all the elements of a beau- 
tiful landscape, save this alone,—and a sad _ lack 
it is. Butin some of the newer states of the north- 
west it is very different. There man has been too 
busy in reclaiming and beautifying his own home- 
spot to disturb the innocent home-life of his wild- 
fowl neighbors. 
None of my many bird-adventures have made 
deeper impression upon me than those of my first 
season spent in studying the breeding habits of the 
Ducks and Geese in the Dakota wilds. Though I 
had read wonderful tales of that region’s bird-life, 
it proved to be one of those pleasant surprises, all 
too uncommon, where the actual equals expecta- 
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