WILD DUCKS 145 



conditions, though, it is best to try to gather all the eggs 

 and rear the young with bantams. 



Control in Free Range. Under some conditions it is 

 possible to maintain wild ducks in freedom of flight, yet 

 under artificial control. This plan is especially applicable 

 to large estates, where there is abundant space of water and 

 marsh, and with species that normally breed in the general 

 region. Such undertakings are particularly the province of 

 State game officials, as wildfowl thus raised will naturally 

 spread to surrounding locaKties and benefit the general pub- 

 lic. This mode of procedure is based upon the fact that 

 young ducks reared artificially, even if allowed powers of 

 flight, will resort to the places where they are fed, often re- 

 maining through the winter if any water can be kept open 

 for them. Even if attracted away with migrating fowl, they 

 often return. Most of them tend to remain or return and 

 breed in the neighbourhood of their birthplace, following the 

 homing instinct which seems to be strong in most birds. 

 It is upon this natural instinct that the migratory impulse 

 seems to be based, causing birds to return to the region of 

 their birth. The more readily a species is tamed in captivity 

 the more successfully does it respond to such a plan. The 

 mallard and wood duck have thus far been most readily con- 

 trolled, but the plan also works with the black duck, and, 

 according to Mr. Walcott, with the pintail, and probably it 

 will be found to with any species which is hardy enough to 

 winter in the region where the plan is attempted. 



How It Works. A bunch, say, of a himdred or more yoimg 

 mallards, is reared in a large preserve. Their wings are 

 allowed to grow out, and at the age of three months they are 

 in full flight. Parties of them fly from one pond or marsh 

 to another, like veritable wildfowl, but return home at regu- 

 lar feeding times. Thomas A. Howell has his mallards range 



