BULLETIN OF THE 



USPMffilOfAffldTlI 



No. 58 



Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, Henry W. Henshaw, Chief 

 February 7, 1914. 



FIVE IMPORTANT WILD-DUCK FOODS. 



By W. L. McAtee, Assistant Biologist. 



Numerous requests for Circular No. 81, containing information on 

 the value, appearance, distribution, and propagation of three impor- 

 tant wild-duck foods, namely, wild rice, wild celery, and pondweeds, 

 attest the widespread demand for knowledge about plants attractive 

 to wild fowl. The data gathered by the Biological Survey relating 

 to duck-food plants has been widely used by State game commissions, 

 game protective associations, and individuals interested m the pro- 

 tection, preservation, and propagation of our native species of ducks 

 and geese. To make available further information of this nature the 

 present account has been prepared, which treats of five other plants 

 of great intrinsic value. Though at present of local importance, all 

 of them are suitable for propagation over most of the United States, 

 and there is no reason why they should not be introduced and take 

 rank among the staple foods of wild ducks in many locahties where 



now unknown. 



DELTA DUCK POTATO. 



VALUE AS DUCK FOOD. 



In the latter part of January and early February, 1910, the writer, 

 under authorization of the Biological Survey, visited the Mississippi 

 Delta, La, One of the principal objects of this trip was to find out 

 what it is that attracts large numbers of canvasbacks to this shoal- 

 water region, the shallow ponds and lakes of which are so different 

 from the comparatively deep water bodies frequented by canvas- 

 backs in the northern States. The attraction was found to be a 

 species of Sagittaria (S. platypJiylla) , which is known to the hunters 

 of this and other parts of Louisiana as "wild potato or wild onion. 

 From an examination of a large nur&ber of stomachs it was found that 

 about 70 per cent of the food of the canvasbacks collected consisted 

 of the tubers of this plant, as did also more than 65 per cent of the food 

 of the mallards. The pintail also was found to feed upon the tubers. 

 The gullet of one canvasback was filled to the throat with the duck 

 potatoes, 24 entire ones being present, besides ground-up remains of 

 several others. Other individuals had 14 to 17 of the tubers in their 

 gullets. There is no doubt that Sagittaria platyphylla is an inipor- 

 19610°— Bull. 58—14 1 



