WILD DUCKS. 



283 



If a person would become satiated with wild-fowling, he 

 has only to visit Chesapeake or Delaware Bay, or such ' 

 States as Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and 

 California, and Florida and Texas in winter, for the birds 

 in these regions may be compared to the sands of the sen, 

 if so bold a simile is permissible. 



Good retrievers are essential to success in duck shoot- 

 ing from the shore, for, withont them, many birds would 



CUES.VrEAKE BAY BOG. 



be lost. The favorite retrieving dogs along the coast are 

 the Chesapeake Bay breed, which cannot be excelled for 

 work in cold or heavy Avater, and which, when trained, 

 have no rivals in their special business, as they are 

 strong, courageous, and very intelligent. Poodles are 

 not used, notwithstanding their many excellent qualities, 

 and Irish retrievers are also comparatively scarce. 



Having mentioned the systems of wild-fowling prac- 

 tised throughout the Continent, I may as well resume a 

 short description of the various species of ducks. 



