DUCK-SHOOTING. 925 
waving in the wind, were the cup-like pods that 
contain the seeds. 
When the pods first form the seeds are entirely 
hidden from view, but as they increase in size, holes 
form in the covering, through which they peep as 
through a window. The seeds and pod are originally 
green, but darken and turn blue, and then brown, 
as the season advances; and the holes, which begin 
by being small, become larger till they open sufti- 
ciently for the seeds to fall out. The seeds or ber- 
ries are elliptical in shape and of almost the size of 
a chestnut; in the green state they are soft, and can 
be readily cat with a knife ; but when ripe and black, 
they are as hard as stone, and will turn the edge of 
a knife like agate. 
When about half ripe, or bluish in color, they are 
good to eat, and after the removal of a little green 
sprout hidden in the centre, are sweet, tasting much 
the same as a chestnut. As they ripen and their 
covering recedes, their stems hold them upright; 
but the first heavy frost breaks down the stems, and 
lets the seed fall out into the water, where they lie 
till next year. 
The working of nature is wonderful, as no one 
observes more frequently than the sportsman; all 
this care is taken to preserve the seeds for their ap- 
pointed work. If they were permitted to fall out 
when green or even half ripe, the action of the water 
would soften and destroy them; extreme hardness 
is necessary to resist its action for so long a time ; 
while, on the other hand, if they were retained 
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