NORTHERN OCEAN 409 



seasons the difference in flavour is easily known by the colour 

 of the fat ; for when that is white, the flesh is most assuredly 

 good ; but when it is yellow, or of an orange colour, it is very 

 rank and fishy. This difference is only peculiar to those that 

 frequent and breed near the sea-coast ; for in the interior parts 

 I never knew them killed but their flesh was very good ; and 

 the young Mallard Duck before it can fly is very fat, and 

 most delicate eating. The same may be said of the Long- 

 tailed Duck. Neither of those species lay more than six or 

 eight eggs in common, and frequently bring them all forth. 



Widgeon.-^ This species of Duck is very uncommon in Widgeon. 

 Hudson's Bay ; usually keeping in pairs, and being seldom 

 seen in flocks. They are by no means so numerous as the 

 two former, and are most frequently seen in rivers and 

 marshes near the sea-coast. Their flesh is generally esteemed ; 

 and the down of those I have examined is little inferior in 

 elasticity to that of the Eider, though much [448] shorter. 

 The same may be said of several other species of Ducks that 

 frequent those parts ; but the impossibility of collecting the 

 down in any quantity, prevents it from becoming an article 

 of trade. 



Teal.^ Like the Mallard, they are found in considerable Teal, 

 numbers near the sea-coast ; but are more plentiful in the 

 interior parts of the country, and fly in such large flocks 

 that I have often killed twelve or fourteen at one shot, and 

 have seen both English and Indians kill a much greater 

 number. At their first arrival they are but poor, though 

 generally esteemed good eating. This diminutive Duck is 

 by far the most prolific of any I know that resorts to Hud- 

 son's Bay ; for I have often seen the old ones swimming at 



[' Mareca atnericana (Gmel.). The American Widgeon occurs on the west 

 coast of Hudson Bay north to the tree-limit, but is not common there.] 



[* The Common Teal of the west coast of Hudson Bay is Nettion carolinense 

 (Gmel.), which occurs in numbers well into the Barren Grounds. The Blue- 

 winged Teal, Qiierquedula discors (Linn.), has been taken there, but is ex- 

 cessively rare.] 



