VI 



NATURAL FOODS OF WILD DUCKS 



TT is an easy matter to attract wild ducks to places 

 ^ where their natural foods are abundant and to hold 

 them, provided the grounds be made safe and the shoot- 

 ing be done in a manner which will not drive them 

 away. On the English preserves the ducks are fed 

 largely with grain, but there are many places in America 

 where their natural foods are abundant. On many de- 

 sirable places, however, the ducks are seldom, if ever,- 

 seen on account of the persecution they are sure to en- 

 counter. 



A gamekeeper is required, of course, and since the 

 ducks can be multiplied far more rapidly by hand-rear- 

 ing than they are when breeding wild, he should pro- 

 duce many ducks by this means in addition to the ducks 

 which breed in a wild state. Many plants which furnish 

 food for wild ducks can be introduced and grown in 

 places where they do not now occur, and a number of 

 dealers can supply wild rice and wild celery, two of the 

 most important foods. The principal dealers are North- 

 rup. King & Co., seedsmen, Minneapolis, Minnesota; 

 Clyde B. Terrell (R. F. D. No. 5, Box 40), Oskosh, 

 Wisconsin, and R. B. White, Waterlily, North Carolina. 



