MALLARD DUCK. 29 
their affection is so strong that nothing but death sep- 
arates them.—that even death itself does not alienate 
their love, but that the balance of the year is passed by 
the survivor in mourning for its lost love, and it chooses 
no other mate. This is an argument frequently used 
by advocates of the abolishment of spring duck shoot- 
ing. I have often dreamily sat in the bottom of my 
boat, snugly in dry hay, hidden behind an improvised 
blind, and watched a pair of these handsome ducks as 
they drifted, floated or swam near me, entirely uncon- 
scious of the fact that an enemy was near. It was al- 
ways a pretty sight tome to see them, so careless, so 
happy, feeding, chattering, or dreamily dozing within 
close gun shot They would be constantly near one 
another and apparently at all times watchful lest they 
should become separated. First the drake would swim 
in advance, closely followed by his brown, yellow and 
mottled companion ; then, the duck enticed to one side 
by acorns dropping with a “ker-plump” into the water, 
or sighting the tiny brown and red berries dropping into 
the flowing stream, or seeds upon its surface, would 
swim to them, thus temporarily deserting her lord and 
master. But he was not willing to be deserted, and 
would swim slowly after her retreating form, his hand- 
some body combining so many beautiful colors, colors 
of lead, chestnut, black, gray and glossy green, varying 
in brilliancy and beauty as the sun's bright rays shone 
so brightly on him, as it straggled through overhanging 
trees. As the drake swims along nearing us, it seems 
that in his dark eye we see glistening there the affec- 
tionate love he has for his modest, dusky mate, and she, 
in her haste for the tempting food, has not forgotten 
her chosen mate, but turns her head of golden brown, 
