INTRODUCTION. 



17 



lard). To the shoal-water variety, with the ducks 

 belong the wild goose and the swan, whose 

 habits, with the manner of hunting them, I shall 

 also consider. 



It will be noticed by those conversant with 

 Western wild-fowling that two or three species 

 of ducks, with the mergansers found on West- 

 ern waters, have been omitted in the above 

 classification. These 1 have considered it a great 

 waste of time and space to describe, as they are 

 rarely pursued for sport, and are of such rank 

 and fishy flavor as to be totally unfit for the 

 table. 



Though several ornithologists have made this 

 same division of the duek family, as may be 

 seen by referring to their scientific nomenclature, 

 they have, however, denominated their subfamilies 

 Fuligulinse, or sea-ducks, and Anatinoe, fresh- 

 water ducks ; and in view of the fact that I 

 am treating solely of inland wild-fowling, and 

 yet find both classes in nearly equal abundance, 

 I have deemed it more appropriate to their 

 habits and general characteristics to classify them 

 as I have at first done. I have dwelt at greatest 

 length upon the pursuit of the mallard and canvas- 

 back, as it is to the capture of these two varieties, 



