194 - WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
what similar to a duck, but are strong and rank. It 
doesn’t add to the flavor by any means, that after the 
flesh has been hastily masticated, and is carried with 
the current of saliva down one’s esophagus, that it leaves 
in the mouth an unpleasant taste of both fish and mud. 
The only person I have really heard compliment them 
was an amateur hunter who carried several of them 
home, the result of his shooting, and ate them under 
the impression they were young ducks, although he was 
unable to acquaint his wife with the name of the species. 
They are familiar to every duck-shooter, and it is 
unnecessary to describe them ornithologically. In the 
fall of the year, in latesummer, one has only to visitany 
marshy, shallow place, where ducks in season frequent, 
and these dark blue, slaty-black little fellows will be 
seen in hundreds and thousands, their sharp white bills 
so conspicuous, —like a wedge driven into their head. 
They dislike flight, and will resort to every means of 
hiding rather than to escape by flight. They are 
strong swimmers and expert divers. For both purposes 
nature has provided them abundantly, as their feet are 
broad, legs long, and extend far back, in flight reaching 
behind them like a stork’s. Their food consists of 
larvee, rice, but chiefly of tender roots, which they get 
by diving down and tearing them from the mud. In 
habits they are fraternal, and affiliate together in large 
flocks, at times blackening the water, so plenty are 
they. While voracious feeders, they enjoy a good 
time, and some of them will wade out on shallow mud- 
banks, or clamber up on musk-rat houses, and sit for 
hours quietly dozing, while their companions in the 
water are industriously feeding, sipping, chattering, and 
uttering faint whistling sounds which are readily con- 
