Ill 



WILD DUCKS FOR SPORT AND PROFIT 



IT is quite as easy to have wild ducks as it is to have 

 tame ones. The wild birds are far more interesting 

 than domesticated ducks are, and in many places they 

 should be much less expensive to rear since they will 

 procure a good part of their food about the margins of 

 the ponds and in the woods and fields. As ornaments 

 for country places, the alert and handsome wild ducks, 

 which spring into the air from land or water with such 

 great rapidity that the fastest cameras cannot picture 

 them without a blur and which fly about on swift wings, 

 often at great heights, delight the eye and charm the 

 observer, even if he be not interested in the double bar- 

 relled gun. The domesticated duck, which cannot use its 

 wings and cannot run or even walk gracefully, in no way 

 can be compared with the trim and alert mallard, teal, 

 widgeon, the beautiful wood-duck, and many other hand- 

 some wild fowl which are indigenous to North America. 

 As objects of sport wild ducks are highly regarded by 

 gunners, and the rearing of these splendid wild food 

 birds can be made profitable under the rational laws 

 permitting such industry which recently have been en- 

 acted in some of the States and which soon will be en- 



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