Witp-Fow.t or WitLp-Fow.t 
the ‘‘ wild Goose chase,’’ and until the ponds freeze 
up. If the migrating flocks are cvertaken by thick 
or stormy weather and alight in the ponds, they are 
apt to fall easy prey. I have known of literally cart- 
loads being taken off from these ponds after a night 
of this kind. 
The staple, standard fowl for the hunter is the 
Dusky.o5° Black” Duck, “excellent, for the table 
and one of the wariest of them all. Next to it in 
abundance, of the fresh-water Ducks, is the hand- 
some Wood Duck. With these two, as residents, the 
hunting season begins, and they are about all the 
Ducks we have until with the early frosts the mi- 
grants beginto appear. Pintails, Mallards, and Red- 
heads come as often as any of this migratory class. 
Sometimes when I have watched through a loophole 
in the ‘‘stand’’ a bunch of Mallards or Redheads 
oue-oneene pond, the green: or red heads of the 
males glistening in the sunlight, I have felt that the 
staid old New England pond was being born again. 
Ducmeelories seemed forcrgn—unnatural to it. | 
wish it were possible that for five years, say, Duck- 
shooting could absolutely cease, and the ponds be 
again populated as they once were. Baldpates come 
rather sparingly, usually single ones with other 
Ducks, while the Gadwall, Shoveler, and Canvas- 
back are only rare stragglers now. I fear this may 
some day be the case with the little Ruddy Duck 
that comes—when it does come—in considerable 
flocks, and allows gunners to row up and extermi- 
nate them. I have often known cases in which, 
out of a large flock, not a single individual got 
out of the pond alive. 
BiiTs 
