XXXII 



THE MALLARD 



THERE are in the check-list of the American 

 Ornithological Union fourteen shoal-water or 

 dabbling ducks. It has been my good fortune to 

 shoot them all, excepting one or two extra limital spe- 

 cies, strays from the old world, which are included in 

 the list of the ornithologists because they have been 

 taken on our shores. These are of no importance, 

 however, to the sportsman, since they are not common 

 enough to furnish sport. They are often referred to 

 as accidental visitors. 



I should be incHned to say that the mallard was 

 the best river or fresh-water wild-duck in the world, 

 if that honor did not belong to the little blue-wing 

 teal. All fresh-water ducks are, however, excellent 

 for the table and afford magnificent sport. So, like the 

 ornithologist who describes one duck after another as 

 the finest food, we are in danger of saying many of 

 these so-called river-ducks are the best. In Dakota 

 we used to have a mallard for dinner and a blue-wing 

 teal for dessert. Perhaps it would be well to describe 

 the mallard as the best all-around duck, the staple, as 

 it were, and let the little blue-wing keep the place 

 accorded to it as something special, just a trifle better 

 if that were possible than the best. Comparing the 



208 



