CHAP TE Ra cite 
ADAPTATION, OF HOODS DOFSOIL, DEPTH OK 
WATER, iG: 
As states and territories become settled more every 
vear by the steady influx of emigration, more land is 
reclaimed from their water-ways which naturally ad- 
vances in value as the surrounding country grows 
productive. Improvements constantly take place, es- 
pecially drainage by tiling, open ditches, etc. These 
necessitate outlets, and canals are cut and dredged 
to convey the water to the nearest creeks and streams. 
Hence a slough or marsh is rapidly drained, the level 
of the water is lowered and dry and marshy land ap- 
pears containing shallow ponds, scattered here and 
there, marking the low depressions. A dry season ar- 
rives, more land is broken by the plow and reclaimed 
and forest trees are cut from the banks of the streams. 
All these concomitants of progressive civilization 
lessen the area of the waters of the state, and tend to 
divert the flyways of the various ducks to other favorite 
and undisturbed grounds. 
The gradual withdrawal of the water, either entirely 
ot by lessening its depth exposes more or less of the 
ducks’ food supply, which may be killed by dryness 
and scorching from the sun’s hot summer rays, by 
plowing up both food and cover, or by rendering the 
water too shallow for those aquatic plants which are 
partially or totally submerged. 
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