BULLETIN OF THE 
C 
No. 58 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, Henry W. Henshaw, Chief. 
February 7, 1914. 
FIVE IMPORTANT WILD-DUCK FOODS. 
By W. L. McAtee, Assistant Biologist. 
Numerous requests for Circular Xo. 81, containing information on 
the value, appearance, distribution, and propagation of three impor- 
tant wild-duck foods, namely, wild rice, wild celery, and pondweeds, 
attest the widespread demand for knowledge about plants attractive 
to wild fowl. The data gathered by the Biological Survey relating 
to duck-food plants has been widely used by State game commissions, 
game protective associations, and individuals interested in the pro- 
tection, preservation, and propagation of our native species of ducks 
and geese! To make available further information of this nature the 
present account has been prepared, which treats of five other plants 
of great intrinsic value. • Though at present of local importance, all 
of them are suitable for propagation over most of the United States, 
and there is no reason why they should not be introduced and take 
rank among the staple foods of wild ducks in many localities where 
now unknown. 
DELTA DUCK POTATO. 
VALUE AS DUCK FOOD. 
In the latter part of January and early February, 1910, the writer, 
under authorization of the Biological Survey, visited the Mississippi 
Delta, La. One of the principal objects of this trip was to find out 
what it is that attracts large numbers of canvasbacks to this shoal- 
water region, the shallow ponds and lakes of which are so different 
from the comparatively deep water bodies frequented by canvas- 
backs in the northern States. The attraction was found to be a 
species of Sagittaria (S. platyphylla) , which is known to the hunters 
of this and other parts of Louisiana as wild potato or wild onion. 
From an examination of a large number of stomachs it was found that 
about 70 per cent of the food of the canvasbacks collected consisted 
of the tubers of this plant, as did also more than 65 per cent of the food 
of the mallards. The pintail also was found to feed upon the tubers. 
The gullet of one canvasback was filled to the throat with the duck 
potatoes, 24 entire ones being present, besides ground-up remains of 
several others. Other individuals had 14 to 17 of the tubers in their 
gullets. There is no doubt that Sagittaria platyphylla is an impor- 
19610°— Bull. 58—14 1 
