274 GAME DEEP-WATER FOWL. 



breath, and diving again so quickly as to seldom 

 allow time for shooting them over. 



For food they depend chiefly upon wild rice 

 and the bulbous grass-roots described as . being 

 also the • favorite food of the canvas-backs and red- 

 heads, and on their feeding-grounds all associate 

 indiscriminately together. Blue-bills are also very 

 partial to overflowed prairies and corn-fields, and 

 are frequently to be found there in quite large 

 numbers. They cannot spring at once into the 

 air like many other ducks, but rise gradually as 

 they go on, and get under good headway exceed- 

 ingly quick. Unless the wind blows quite fresh, 

 they may alight either with or against it, seldom 

 turning back to alight if coming to the decoys 

 down-wind. Though their flesh is well flavored, 

 and generally in good order, they sell at very low 

 prices, frequently at seventy-five cents per dozen 

 in Chicago markets. 



They are less cautious about approaching the 

 shore than canvas-backs or red-heads, and large 

 numbers are frequently killed over decoys from 

 blinds built in the willows bordering some favor- 

 ite feeding-ground. Almost any kind of a blind 

 will do when shooting over decoys ; only be care- 

 ful not to attract their attention by any sudden 



