Practical Game-Preserving. 260 



surface of the water. It will occupy the ducks a con- 

 siderable time when feeding at it, and is an economical 

 mode of giving them their food. 



There are, furthermore, several cheap forms of natural 

 food which may be provided for wild duck in such 

 seasons when they are plentiful. Acorns are much 

 appreciated, so are haws from the whitethorn bushes. 

 These can often be obtained in considerable quantities, and 

 are easily stored. Wherever, too, the paunchings from 

 rabbits can be obtained, they should be utilised by being 

 chopped up small and thrown into the water. Not only 

 do they serve for your own ducks, but they are very 

 attractive to others. 



If wild duck be fed upon the lines that have been laid 

 down in this chapter, they will neither desert their 

 proper homes nor deteriorate in quality. On the 

 contrary, by always returning at night-time to their 

 regular haunts to feed, they will bring other ducks 

 with them, so that the stock is more likely to increase than 

 to decline in numbers. Not only will they attract other 

 wild duck, but in districts where it is possible other 

 species will occasionally be attracted and remain. The 

 fact that other duck are brought to the feeding-grounds is 

 one for satisfaction, especially if the strangers remain 

 until the breeding-season, because you then obtain a 

 valuable infusion of fresh blood amongst the stock. 

 Obtained in this way, the new blood from really wild 

 birds is of much more value than when only secured by 

 turning down two or three mallards from other sources, 

 or by importing a fresh lot of eggs. 



It is not a bad plan, especially during the winter 

 months, to keep a few pinioned ducks upon the waters, 

 both as an attraction for any passing ducks, and as in- 

 fluencing also those belonging to the place. Sometimes 



