HARD TRAVELLING. 221 



margin of a stream or lake. Towards sunset or sun- 

 rise they visit their feeding-grounds, the time of 

 their appearance being much governed by the tem- 

 perature and the wind. In tempestuous weather 

 they throw off their shyness, and are less loth to 

 approach the haunts of men. As the mallards feed 

 almost entirely on grain when it can be procured, 

 they are seldom indifferent human food : but should 

 severe frosts drive them to the open sea for their 

 sustenance, they become fishy and consequently dis- 

 agreeable, even when served from the hands of the 

 most skilful cook. Wild rice, which I believe grows 

 only in American western waters, has immense at- 

 tractions for the mallard. The sportsman who desires 

 to accomplish their destruction has but to learn 

 where this aquatic vegetable flourishes in abundance, 

 and the season at which its seed is ripe, and in that 

 locality he will find unlimited opportunities for sport. 

 After another day of hard travelling we found our- 

 selves, almost for the first time, short of food. Al- 

 though so far in the season, the day following was 

 just such a one as we frequently experience in 

 London in the month of February, when the poor 

 man shivers over his scanty fire, or the little crossing- 

 sweeper trembles with cold before the glowing win- 

 dows of some luxurious club. This day I had a very- 

 severe attack of that commonplace complaint the 

 ' blues/ Although my present position was of my 

 own choosing, there were moments at which I could 

 almost envy these poor vagrants in the streets of 



