216 WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



fancy prices as a reasonably lucrative enterprise, is 

 interesting and satisfying beyond all description. 



The readiness of nearly all wild animals to accept 

 man's proposals to protect and partially feed them 

 is amazing. It appeals wonderfully to one's sense 

 of fair play to find a flock of wild geese meeting 

 you more than half-way by staying with you and 

 rearing their brood as long as you give them a little 

 corn at the same time each day ; and the knowledge 

 that your own wild ducks decline to go south, when 

 literally thousands of their wilder friends come and 

 go each spring and fall, warms the cockles of your 

 heart. 



As an illustration of the intelligence of wild 

 water-fowl and the quickness with which they learn 

 to take advantage of protection that is offered, I 

 might cite an incident that was told me by that 

 keen sportsman and ardent lover of wild life, Lord 

 William Percy. 



It seems that in the north of England, not far 

 from Alnwick Castle, Lord William's home, lives 

 a gentleman named Grant, who while offering 

 every protection to all wild fowl on his place never 

 has allowed any shooting. A flock of wild gray 

 mallards came annually to Mr. Grant's place, and 

 as they were never molested they became as tame as 

 barnyard fowl, and would come to the kitchen door 

 to be fed. In the open, however, these birds were 

 even more shy than ordinary wild fowl, and Lord 

 William stated that the professional gunners came 



