THE BLACK DUCK 287 



land winter begin their longer journey to south- 

 ern waters, and up to the middle of December 

 the migrant birds continue to pass. 



There is a vast difference between the flavor 

 of the winter bird, fed on the mussels and an- 

 imal food of the salt water, and that of the 

 lazy dweller in the summer lakes ; at the table 

 one would scarcely know them for members of 

 the same family. If their plumage and habits 

 differed as much as the taste of their flesh there 

 would be strong ground for the opinion which 

 has been advanced that the birds of our win- 

 ter months are of a race distinct from the birds 

 which we gather during the fall flights. This 

 belief is based upon the larger size, darker 

 color, much heavier streaking on head and neck, 

 brighter yellow of the bill, and redder tinge of 

 the feet and legs of the cold weather visitor — 

 naming it the ' ' Hudson Bay Duck, ' ' and claim- 

 ing that it is a more northern race than the 

 other. This is the one occasion which has come 

 to my notice where the sportsman has gotten in 

 ahead of the scientist in the separation of a 

 sub-species : by our duck shooters these differ- 

 ences have long been noted and this theory of 

 a separate race been held. One experienced 



