258 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
THE MALLARD. 
In my protracted rambles about the world, I know no 
portion where the mallard can not be found. I have al- 
ways been passionately fond of wild-fowl shooting, and the 
bags that I have made in the United States and Canada of 
this noble bird far exceeded those obtained elsewhere. As 
wild fowl are nearly all migratory by inclination, or are com- 
pelled to be so from the changes of the seasons, it is of great 
importance that you should visit the various haunts at the 
proper periods of the year. However, the rule is, for suc- 
cessfully carrying on war against the web-footed families, 
go north in summer and south in winter. In June, July, 
and August, the wild-rice fields of the numerous laby- 
rinths of lakes of Minnesota and the North-west territo- 
ry, perfectly swarm with wild fowl; while in December and 
January, they will be found equally numerous on the large 
bayous and lagoons that surround the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi. Of course, in the intermediate portion of country 
between Minnesota and the Gulf of Mexico, during the sea- 
sons of migration, splendid days’ shooting can be obtained ; 
but the stay of the birds is so short that it might not com- 
pensate for a special visit. Where thousands are to be 
secn to-day, not a dozen will be met to-morrow; but if you 
‘should happen in the spring and autumn to be in either of 
the States of Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana, when the frost and 
ice are breaking up in spring, or when winter makes its 
first appearance, you may with safety calculate on having 
some of the finest sport. A year or two since, when in 
Illinois in November, a sudden change took place in the 
weather, and although the morning was ushered in mild 
and warm, by noon it was snowing, with a gale of wind 
blowing from the north. From experience I knew that 
such a day was not to be wasted over the fire. I got on 
