CHAPTER XX. 



THE WATER-BIRDS. 



THE DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



The members of this group are omnivorous birds, eating 

 animals and vegetables in varying ratios, as may be readily 

 guessed by any one familiar with domestic varieties. Their 

 economic status, however, does not depend so much upon 

 what they eat as upon the quality of their flesh. Their 

 feathers have a value, to be sure, but that is a secondary 

 consideration, which is pretty nearly constant throughout, 

 while the great variation in ducks and geese from a gastro- 

 nomic standpoint is worthy of particular attention. 



The Mallard Duck is an abundant species, except in New 

 England, where it is rather rare, being replaced by the black 

 or dusky variety. The common greenheaded domestic duck 

 is of mallard stock, though probably introduced from Europe, 

 where the mallard is a common wild species. During autumn 

 the mallards come into the United States in great numbers — 

 the majority breeding beyond our northern limits — and are 

 much sought by sportsmen. They weigh from two to three 

 pounds each. 



The Black Duck, or Dusky Duck, is a favorite in the Eastern 

 States, where it is abundant, breeding in New England and 

 northward. It is nearly related to the mallard, which it 

 equals in size and quality. The Teals, blue- winged and green- 

 winged, are two small ducks well known through the country, 

 except in New England, where they are not so common as 

 elsewhere. Being little, they are of less importance than the 

 preceding, though they are quite as good for eating. Other 

 ducks of equal rank with those already mentioned are the 

 gadwall, widgeon, shoveller, pintail, and wood-duck. All are 



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