XXIV 



TREE-DUCKS 



A REVIEW of the game-birds of North America 

 would be incomplete without some mention of 

 two peculiar birds known as the tree-ducks. But few 

 sportsmen, excepting those who have shot in the 

 States which adjoin Mexico, are aware of the exist- 

 ence of these birds. They are, however, shot and are 

 good to eat, and the sportsman who goes to the Cali- 

 fornia marshes or to Southern Texas may add them to 

 his bag. 



Both these birds nest in trees. They are reported 

 as not very wild or shy and as having been easily do- 

 mesticated, when they associate with barn-yard fowls. 



The black-bellied tree-duck feeds in corn-fields and 

 is said to do much damage to the crop. 



The fulvous tree-duck is found in Louisiana and 

 Texas and breeds in the California marshes. 



These birds run well and dive well and are difficult 

 to secure when wounded. They are described in the 

 appendix sufficiently for the sportsman who may shoot 

 one to identify it. 



l6o 



