544 DUCK SHOOTING. 



them at eight weeks old. I can easily believe that they 

 can climb up a hollow tree and drop 20 feet into the 

 grass without injury. What need of such sharp claws 

 and climbing ability if not for leaving the nest? 



I once had a wood duck that climbed 3 feet of poul- 

 try netting by aid of wings, and then sat on the selvage 

 wires, which were less than |- inch in diameter, and 

 this shows how small a thing their feet can grasp. 

 She went outside into a swamp every day, and tried to 

 coax her mate out, but he wouldn't, or couldn't, and 

 she gave it up and nested in the box provided for her. 

 Usually there was a 3-inch strip on top of the netting to 

 prevent this. 



I have spoken of the mandarin duck. It is a Chinese 

 bird that in everything but color is a wood duck. The 

 prevailing hue with them is old gold. The male has 

 two "fans" on its wings, broad-webbed single feathers, 

 which it can erect, swan fashion. Tastes differ in 

 comparing the mandarin with our native bird; the 

 colors are not so bright, but there is the softness of hue 

 which we admire in Oriental rugs. 



The redhead is bred in Europe, where it is known as 

 "pochard," but the canvas-back they have not. I had 

 many inquiries for this bird from over the water, and 

 went to Havre de Grace, Md., to try to get cripples or 

 netted birds, but got only promises. The gunners 

 there get $3, and over, a pair for them, and I offered 

 $15, and would take ten pairs, but got none. 



The widgeon, both American and European, I have 

 had, but never bred from them; the minks would not 



