246 AMERICAN GAME. 



ance of that lovely river throughout the summer by 

 gangs of ruffianly loafers, with whom the neighboring 

 town of Newark abounds beyond any other town of its 

 size in the known world, boating upon its silvery surface 

 day and night, and rendering day and night equally 

 hideous with their howls and blasphemies. 



Before proceeding to the description of these birds it 

 is well to observe that it will be found the better way, 

 in approaching them, as indeed all w r ild fowl, to work, 

 if possible, up wind to them ; not that wild fowl have 

 the power, as some pretend, of scenting the odor of the 

 human enemy on the tainted gale, as is undoubtedly the 

 case with deer and many other quadrupeds, but that 

 their hearing is exceedingly acute, and that their heads 

 are pricked up to listen, at the occurrence of the least 

 unusual sound, and at the next moment hey, (presto ! 

 they are off. 



The little cat at the head of this paper, for the spirited 

 and faithful execution of which the author and artist 

 must be permitted to return his acknowledgments to his 

 friend, Mr. Brightly, represents a favorite feeding-ground 

 of the various tribes of water fowl, as is indicated by 

 the large gaggle of geese passing over, from right to 

 left, and the trip of .green-wings alighting to the call of 

 a clamorous drake in the background. On a rocky spur 

 of the shore, in the right foreground, is a male Green- 

 Winged Teal, in the act of springing, with his legs 

 already gathered under him ; and, still nearer to the front 



