Sala 
Lesser Scaup (Bluebill).--Nearly 95 per cent of the con- 
tents of 82 stomachs of the lesser scaup was animal food, mostly 
molluscs (Amnicola, Syhaerium, Pisidium). Coontail and duck potato 
were the chief plant species represented in the stomach contents. 
Ring-Necked Duck (Blackjack).--Plant food was somewhat pre- 
= ee en SE Oy Pes Bs SS seca 2 1 4 
Borrcd DO Snimal food by this diving duex, as represented by the 42 
stomachs examined. Sago and long-leaved pondweed seeds made up the 
bulk of the contents. Of the animal foods, molluscs and midge larvae 
eomposed 90 per cent of the volume. 
Summary of Stomach Analysis.--Over 100 plant and animal 
specics have been identified from the duck stomach contents so far 
examined. Less than a fifth of these foods, however, constitute an 
important part of the diet. Corn wasted during the harvest is 
utilized heavily by mallards and pintails which, together, make up 
the major part of the duck flight through Illinois. So long as 
agricultural practices bordering the Illinois River remain the same 
as they are today there is little chance for widespread starvation 
among ducks during the hunting season, cven if the supply of natural 
food fails. The belicf sometimes cxpressed, that baiting is neces- 
Bary to prevent duck starvation, does not apply to Illinois 
conditions. 
There is some evidence that ducks resort to cornfield feed- 
ing through necessity rather than preference. The stomach contents 
of the ducks killed where excellent natural feed conditions prevailed 
contained comparatively little corn. 
Stomach analyses, as woll as ficlad observations, indicate 
Ghat the thousands of dollars spent in the past by duek clubs in 
planting wild cclery, wild ricc, wapito and sago have accomplished 
MWittle in bettering the natural food conditions of the Illinois 
Valley. Studies proposed for the future should evolve a planting 
schedule suited to the exacting requirements of the Illinois River 
arca. 
