192 THE AXGLEE AND HUNTSMAN 



suitable aquatic plants for the attraction of waterfowl from 

 trustworthy sources. 



Information concerning the propagation of valuable 

 wild-duck foods is constantly requested by State game com- 

 missions, game protective associations, and sportsmen's 

 clubs, and also by individuals interested in the protection 

 and propogation of waterfowl. The U. S. Biological Sur- 

 vey has endeavored to meet the demand by issuing this in- 

 formation in bulletin form, under the direction of W. L. Mc- 

 Atee, Assistant Biologist, to whom I am indebted for this 

 data. The widest dissemination of this knowledge among 

 the American people is in line with the policy of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture. 



Wild Rice and its Value as Duck Food: 



Wild rice (Zizania palustris and Z. aquatica) in all 

 stages of its growth is eaten by one or another of North 

 American ducks and geese, and practically all of them feed 

 on its ripened grain. It is the staple fall food of many 

 ducks in the numberless rice marshes of the eastern United 

 States. The seeds are obtained mainly from the bottom in 

 shallow water, w r here they have fallen into a bed of soft muck 

 to await germination. This is often so delayed that grain 

 may sprout at any time up to at least 18 months after ripen- 

 ing. This accounts for the fact that young shoots and ger- 

 minating seeds of wild rice are found in ducks 7 stomachs at 

 nearly all seasons. The shoots are devoured by many spe- 

 cies, the flowers have been found in the wood duck's stom- 

 ach, and the stems and leaves of the mature plants are eaten 

 by geese. 



The government expert says that of the food of 209 mal- 

 lards examined, more than 17% was wild rice, 12 c ( of that 

 of 51 black ducks, and more than 11 c / f . of that of 75 wood 

 ducks. The Canada goose, snow goose, pintail, widgeon, 

 lesser and greater scaups or bluebills, canvas back, redhead, 



