274 THE WOOD DUCK. 



the syllables ^e-ee, pe-ee. The watch-note of the male, which resembles 

 hoe-eek, is never uttered by the female; indeed, the male himself seldom 

 uses it unless alarmed by some uncommon sound or the sight of a distant 

 enemy, or when intent on calling passing birds of his own species. 



The young are carefully led along the shallow and grassy shores, and 

 taught to obtain their food, which at this early period consists of small 

 aquatic insects, flies, musquitoes, and seeds. As they grow up, you now and 

 then see the whole flock run as it were along the surface of the sluggish 

 stream in chase of a dragon-fly, or to pick up a grasshopper or locust that 

 has accidentally dropped upon it. They are excellent divers, and when 

 frightened instantly disappear, disperse below the surface, and make for the 

 nearest shore, on attaining which they run for the woods, squat in any con- 

 venient place, and thus elude pursuit. I used two modes of procuring them 

 alive on such occasions. One was with a bag net, such as is employed in 

 catching our little Partridge, and which I placed half sunk in the water, 

 driving the birds slowly, first within the wings, and finally into the bag. In 

 this manner I have caught young and old birds of this species in consider- 

 able numbers. The other method I accidentally discovered while on a 

 shooting excursion, accompanied by an excellent pointer dog. I observed 

 that the sight of this faithful animal always immediately frightened the 

 young Ducks to the shores, the old one taking to her wings as soon as she 

 conceived her brood to be safe. But the next instant Juno would dash 

 across the ba}'ou or pond, reach the opposite bank, and immediately follow 

 on their track. In a few moments she would return with a duckling held 

 between her lips, when I would take it from her unhurt. 



While residing at Henderson, I thought of taming a number of Wood 

 Ducks. In the course of a few days Juno procured for me, in the manner 

 above described, as many as I had a mind for, and they were conveyed home 

 in a bag. A dozen or more were placed in empty flour barrels, and covered 

 over for some hours, with the view of taming them the sooner. Several of 

 these barrels were placed in the yard, but whenever I went and raised their 

 lids, I found all the little ones hooked by their sharp claws to the very edge 

 of their prisons, and, the instant that room was granted, they would tumble 

 over and run off in all directions. I afterwards frequently saw these young 

 birds rise from the bottom to the brim of a cask, by moving a few inches at 

 a time up the side, and fixing foot after foot by means of their diminutive 

 hooked claws, which, in passing over my hand, I found to have points 

 almost as fine as those of a needle. They fed freely on corn-meal soaked in 

 water, and as they grew, collected flies with great expertness. When they 

 were half-grown I gave them great numbers of our common locusts yet 

 unable to fly, which were gathered by boys from the trunks of trees and 



