LOCAL FLIGHTS, ETC. 97 
grations, and with the bald-pates during the fall. The 
redleg mallard likes to roost in the pockets of lakes 
fringed with pin oaks and buck-brush, in the heavy 
growth of water smartweed, the seed of which it is 
extremely fond of, as well as to pick up the acorns 
from the bottom of water where the oaks overhang 
the banks or grow in the water, as in the glades. They 
never play during the day upon their roosting 
grounds, but, being voracious feeders, eat a greater 
part of the night, although they go regularly to the 
glades for their favorite mast during feeding hours. 
A playground is the term applied to a piece of water 
situated in the middle or end of some slough, lake, 
marsh or musquaid distant from the margin, where 
ducks can be secure from danger; generally it is cov- 
ered in spots with lily pads, rice, rushes or other 
aquatic plants. To these places the ducks retreat 
directly after feeding and stay during the middle of 
the day, idly floating on the water; some with their 
heads upon their backs or under their wings, others 
swimming playfully about and chasing each other; 
sunning themselves, occasionally diving and picking 
up seeds, or otherwise disporting according to the 
particular species to which they belong. Here is to 
be observed the peculiar tipping-up habit indulged in 
by non-divers, who obtain their favorite tidbits of 
food in that manner, and not by diving; therefore, they 
use shallow water from the surface of which they can 
readily reach their food. They depart from these 
grounds in small flocks, as before, to their respective 
feeding grounds about three o’clock p. m.; should 
the wind be blowing strongly and the surface of the 
water roughened, they will drift to the weather side 
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