THE WOOD- DUCK. 277 



terior. Strictly migratory in their habits, they are invaria- 

 bly the earliest visitors of the duck family that denote the 

 termination of winter, and the last to tell that autumn is 

 about to give place to the season of snow and ice. They 

 breed away up in the far North among the innumerable lakes 

 and rivulets of the Hudson Bay territory, and pass their 

 winter in the swamps and lagoons scattered over the sea- 

 board of Texas and other Southern States. 



They are very swift and powerful upon the wing, and 

 require as much hitting, if not more, than any bird of their 

 size; therefore No. 3 shot and a ten-bore gun should be 

 used. They are also very wary, and unless in a snow- 

 storm, when they appear to become bewildered, great pa- 

 tience and skill are necessary to make a successful stalk 

 upon them. In seeking for them, the sportsman must be 

 guided entirely by not only the season of the year but by 

 its severity, if on the Western prairies, where I have seen 

 them in immense numbers. The day or two preceding the 

 freezing up of the sloughs they are certain to be found in 

 abundance ; again, in spring, immediately after thaw has 

 commenced. 



From their delicacy of flavor, they are much sought af- 

 ter; but their destruction is inconsiderable from the reason 

 I have above stated. However, drainage and agriculture 

 are certain ultimately to drive them from what are now 

 their favorite haunts. 



THE WOOD-DUCK, 



This bird, which rivals in beauty of plumage the far- 

 famed mandarin duck of China, is seldom or never found 

 upon the sea-board of the United States, even in such se- 

 vere weather as freezes up the rivers, for on such occasions, 

 being migratory, it betakes itself southward to more hos- 

 pitable latitudes. However, during summer and open win- 



