whole appearance is one of reduced vigor. During the third and fourth weeks the above symptoms in- 
erease in severity, and new symptoms appear. The keel bone becomes prominent, and the wings gen- 
erally assume a “roof-shaped” position over the back (see cover illustration); penned ducks in this stage 
Fig. 4. -- Three lots of small grains that illustrate the effect of ingested lead shot on the average daily 
intake of food by three wild drake mallards. Left to right are (1) 0.19 pound, consumed by a duck that 
exhibited no ill effects following the dose of shot (2) 0.11 pound, consumed by a duck that showed moder- 
ately ill effects and a weight loss of 0.5 pound, and (3) 0.01 pound, consumed by a duck that lost 1.4 
pounds and died 19 days following the administration of shot. 
of poisoning are unable to fly. Wild, umpenned ducks make weak attempts to fly or dive when they are 
flushed, or they seek concealment in vegetative cover. In some cases the wings of sick ducks are ex- 
tended downward in a “wing drop,” fig. 5, and attempts to retract them usually fail. 
A combined drooping of the chest and abnormally high carriage of the tail impart an unsteady, 
rocking motion to the birds as they move about. The neck invariably rests on the back. Ducks com- 
monly fall and experience difficulty in arising. Lead-poisoned birds, both in the pens and in the 
wild, seek isolation. 
The blood of ducks in advanced stages of poisoning is thin and anemic in color. 
Symptoms in Dead Ducks. -- Dissection of lead-poisoned birds reveals striking evidence of ema- 
ciation. The body cavity contains no fat deposits. The great flight muscles of the breast are reduced 
<uGR 
