8o DUCK SHOOTING. 



erts are white ; the belly and lower tail coverts yellow- 

 ish-white ; the bill is blackish, and the feet and legs are 

 slate-blue; the length is about 20 inches; wing, 9 1-2 

 inches. The colors of the young are somewhat duller, 

 and the wing coverts lack the chestnut. 



The fulvous tree duck, known as the yellow-bellied 

 fiddler in Louisiana, and the long-legged duck in Texas, 

 is quite common there at certain seasons. Its habits do 

 not vary greatly from those of the black-bellied tree 

 duck. Like that species, it spends much of its time in 

 fresh water lakes and sloughs, feeding on the grasses 

 that grow there, and it also visits thejcorn fields at night 

 in search of grain. 



The flesh of both these species is said to be very de- 

 licious, and is eagerly sought after.* The birds are shot 

 only by being stumbled on or by lying in wait for them 

 as they come into or leave the corn fields. 



This duck is exceedingly unsuspicious and readily 

 permits approach, so that many of them are killed. 

 When crippled, however, their strong legs enable them 

 to run very fast, and, like all ducks, they are expert 

 hiders, getting into the grass and lying there without 

 moving. The bird is also a good diver, and if it reaches 

 the water is not likely to be captured. It is said never 

 to be found on the salt water, but confines itself entirely 

 to inland pools, rivers and swamps. 



*On this point compare Robert Erskine Ross in "California 

 Duck Notes,' Forest and Stream, July 26, 1902. 



