GAD WALL D UCKGEA Y D UCK. 173 



little swifter, and they are often taken for the female 

 mallard when shot at and this illusion is only dispelled 

 after killing and picking the duck up. They decoy 

 nicely in open ponds, whose shores are fringed with 

 flags, grass or wild rice. Mallard decoys are best to 

 use, except, of course, those of their own kind. These 

 ducks I found plenty in the lakes of Dakota, in the 

 early fall. In winter, they go south, and in late fall 

 are found in abundance, seemingly more plenty than 

 any other duck. Their call is very similar to a mallard's 

 being finer, shriller, and not so vibrating and resonant. 

 No. 6 shot is the best size to use. These birds die 

 easily, and when crippled are not hard to capture. 



