386 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The Brant Goose, Anser hernicla, a bird well known in 

 our markets, breeds on the coasts of Hudson's Bay and the 

 northern ocean, and spends the winter in the southern states. 

 Early in October, they arrive in large numbers, some in order 

 of march, others in noisy confusion, and make little more stay 

 than is necessary for resting, after their long flight. But flocks 

 continue to follow each other in long succession, and the gun- 

 ners secure considerable numbers. In spring they return, but 

 their stay is still shorter, and their flesh very uninviting ; in 

 winter it is more valued, but has a fishy taste at best. 



The Shoveler, Anas clypeata, which is considered one of 

 the greatest luxuries of the table, belongs to the northern part 

 of the continent, but sometimes visits our coast, and still more 

 frequently our lakes and rivers, in the declining year. Were 

 it not for the great bill, this would be a handsome bird. It 

 draws in the watery mud through the teeth of its bill, which 

 fit into each other, forming a sort of sieve, by which it throws 

 out the water, and retains the worms, seeds, and insects for its 

 food. It is sometimes found in the Boston market, brought 

 from the ponds in the vicinity. 



The Mallard Duck, Anas boschas, is our common duck in 

 its wild state. It is common at the south, but not so in Mas- 

 sachusetts, where it is very rare, and beyond Portland it is not 

 known. The reason is, that this duck, instead of resorting to 

 the seacoast, is partial to lakes and rivers. They are most 

 abundant in the western states, where many of them remain, 

 and breed. As they come from the great lakes, they spread 

 themselves over those regions, resorting to meadows, swamps, 

 and thick beech woods. In the wild state, they are strongly 

 contrasted with the domesticated, in the spirit and animation 

 of their movements : their flight is wonderfully swift and well 

 sustained, while the wings of the common duck hardly lift it 

 from the ground. The squatters of the Mississippi catch many 

 of the mallards when young, and they are sufficiently tame by 

 the end of the first year. The young of those thus caught, 



