THE BLACK DUCK 287 
land winter begin their longer journey to south- 
ern waters, and up to the middle of December 
the migrant birds continue to pass. 
There is a vast difference between the flavor 
of the winter bird, fed on the mussels and an- 
imal food of the salt water, and that of the 
lazy dweller in the summer lakes; at the table 
one would scarcely know them for members of 
the same family. If their plumage and habits 
differed as much as the taste of their flesh there 
would be strong ground for the opinion which 
has been advanced that the birds of our win- 
ter months are of a race distinct from the birds 
which we gather during the fall flights. This 
belief is based upon the larger size, darker 
color, much heavier streaking on head and neck, 
brighter yellow of the bill, and redder tinge of 
the feet and legs of the cold weather visitor— 
naming it the ‘‘Hudson Bay Duck,’’ and claim- 
ing that it is a more northern race than the 
other. This is the one occasion which has come 
to my notice where the sportsman has gotten in 
ahead of the scientist in the separation of a 
sub-species: by our duck shooters these differ- 
ences have long been noted and this theory of 
a separate race been held. One experienced 
