576 



GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



and the rootstocks unless they steal them from the diving 

 Ducks, but all parts of the plant are eaten by Ducks, and it is 

 a very important duck food. Mr. McAtee found that even 

 the Scoters, or so-called " Coots," on a Wisconsin lake in fall 

 lived mostly on this plant, and the real Coot {Fulica americand) 

 is fond of it and commonly dives for the buds. The non-diving 

 Ducks feed mainly upon the leaves. 



Fia. 23. — Wild celery. (Reduced from Reichenbaeh.) (From 

 Circular No. 81, Bureau of Biological Survey, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. ) 



Wild celery is found in some of the best ducking ponds of 

 New England. It is a submerged plant, with long, flat, flexible 

 leaves of light translucent green, from one-fourth to three- 

 fourths of an inch in width. A leaf held up to the light shows 

 numerous fine, straight, parallel veins running along its entire 



