AMONG THE WATER FOWL 



tify every one, and note each motion. Some were 

 paddling about, others were pluming themselves 

 on the shore, but they all kept in pairs, as they did 

 also when they flew. Among them was one pair 

 of Green-winged Teal, a species that is very scarce 

 in Dakota in the breeding season. 



The next morning I was out at the break of 

 day, even before it was light enough to see the 

 birds. I soon found a series of small sloughs which 

 were just full of Ducks. Each slough that I ap- 

 proached gave forth a score or so of searchers for 

 breakfast and the early worm. That unfortunate 

 creature this morning must have felt sluggish and 

 indisposed, for it had been cold enough during the 

 night to skim the sloughs over with ice near the 

 shores. The muddy flats had also an icy crust, and 

 my first exploit while trying to wade one was to trip 

 on this crust and pitch headlong. To save myself, 

 I naturally put out my arms, and in up to the 

 shoulders they went in the cold, wet ooze ! The 

 Ducks quacked loudly, as if mocking, and I fear I 

 should have lost my temper, but for so many inter- 

 esting things that made wet clothes and a mud- 

 plaster trifles not worthy of interrupting the pleasant 

 chain of thought. 



A walk of about a mile from here brought us to 

 a larger and more open lake. Large flocks of Ducks 

 of various kinds were resting upon its surface, and a 

 pair of Great Marbled Godwits were feeding on the 

 prairie near the margin. A very tall bird stood on 

 the shore, with long neck extended, taking note of 

 our approach. We thought it was a Sand-hill Crane, 

 but, when it swam out into the lake, we perceived 



172 



