The Wild-Fowlers 



' What do these ducks feed on, Cap- 

 tain ? " asked Doctor Bradley. 



" Wai, I s'pose season hes a good deal 

 teh do wi' it, es wi' us folks, but th' 

 broadbill, which es our plentiest bird an' 

 which I likes teh eat better 'n redhead 

 an* -pretty near es well es canvasback, 

 feeds a little on grasses an' mostly on 

 little clams an' little mussels no bigger 'n 

 yer littlest fingernail. He dives fer his 

 food, pulls up the grass in doin' so, eats 

 the bottom part sometimes, an' lets th' 

 top part float down fer th' brents teh eat." 



" The brant makes the broadbill gather 

 his dinner," said Bradley. 



" Yes; thet be 'bout so. The brents 

 don* dive, an' they allus toilers th' broad- 

 bills teh get th' grass they pulls up." 



" Broadbill 's your favorite duck when 

 cooked, then, Captain ? " from Corbin. 



" Not azacly ; I favor blackduck 

 ahead of 'em all, tho' nex' teh th' black- 

 duck I likes canvasback." 



And so the three jovial men talked on 



