WILD DUOKS. 291 
the most brilliant birds of the tropics. Some of the species 
of ducks enumerated do not go west of the Rocky Moun- 
tains in anything like very large teams, the greatest ex- 
ception being the blue-winged teal, its place beyond that 
chain being occupied by the cinnamon teal. 
The Fuliguline are both numerous and widely dis- 
persed, but only a few species have any attractions for the 
sportsman, as their flesh, owing to the character of their 
food, is not fit to be eaten. The best known and most 
highly appreciated is the canvas-back (Fuligula valis- 
neria), whose gastronomical reputation is higher than 
that of any other member of its family. It also occupies 
the most exalted position in the estimation of the lovers 
of the gun, for it is wary, active, and a regular die-hard. 
The male of this species has a blackish-brown head, a 
dusky bill, which is longer than the head, and high at 
the base; the iris is red;-the nostrils are median; it has 
more light than dark colors, and the black is broken into 
very small dots. This species is abundant everywhere in 
the West and Southwest, and is slaughtered in every con- 
ceivable manner from toling to ‘sneak-boxing,” ‘‘jump- 
ing,” “‘fire-hunting,” and ‘‘blind” shooting. Huge 
swivel guns were formerly used in its destruction, but 
these have been suppressed by law in some places, and 
any person using them now is liable to fine or imprison- 
ment. The birds seem to have become aware of this fact 
by some system of reasoning, for they frequently keep 
within range of these demi-cannons, quack their defiance 
at the pot-hunters, and seem to say, “‘ Fire, if you dare; 
if you do you'll get ten days; just try your old gun; we 
don’t care for you, anyhow,” and duck words of similar 
import. Where the law is not enforced against the bat- 
teries, enormous numbers of ducks are killed at long 
range, and this makes the survivors so wild that it is al- 
most impossible to get a shot at them with a shoulder 
gun, Another mean device invented by man for their 
