American Game 165 



roost. During the cold weather they often stay on the 

 fields all day, only returning to the river at night. 



Mallard remain in the state the whole year ; when 

 sloughs and rivers are frozen up, they are found in 

 spring creeks, which seldom freeze. These creeks are 

 very numerous in this state, and are often of good size. 

 They are frequently found from four to six feet deep 

 and from ten to twelve feet wide, and their banks are inva- 

 riably covered by a dense growth of willows from six 

 to ten feet high, affording splendid cover to shoot from. 



Among the migratory duck are the green- and blue- 

 winged teal, the sprigtail, the butterball, the spoonbill, 

 redhead, widgeon, and black duck. Teal stay in this 

 state all summer, and breed in the different sloughs. 

 They, however, leave very early in the fall, and you sel- 

 dom find them after frost sets in. 



The curlew is the first game-bird to make its appear- 

 ance in the spring, usually in the latter part of March or 

 the beginning of April. In most cases it lays its eggs 

 on high ground, and as soon as the young are hatched 

 they are brought down to some creek or slough by the 

 caring parents. These birds leave very early, not later 

 than August 25, when they assemble in large flocks, 

 uttering their cry, and off they go to a more congenial 

 climate. 



Jack-snipe arrive in Montana the latter part of April, 

 only a few remaining to breed, but in the autumn they 

 are very plentiful, and usually remain four or five weeks 

 before finally leaving on their migratory flight south. 

 They are always found in this state in the boggy sloughs 

 or spring creeks. 



The yellowlegs also make their appearance about the 



