January, 1920 
FOREST AND STREAM 
41 
think of the last bird shot at. It was 
strange, but there seemed to be some- 
thing different about this duck. It stood 
out among the others so white, in that 
brief instant before I shot, that I could 
not get it out of my mind. 
It was Saturday night and I deter- 
mined to be around early the next morn- 
ing to look for it. Standing up in the 
cold wind, coming across the pond and 
down the creek, had chilled me to the 
bone, and I certainly did enjoy the hot 
supper we now sat down to. Never did 
sizzling hot coffee taste better, and I did 
valiant service before laying down my 
knife and fork, but at last we were sat- 
isfied, and drawing back from the table, 
repaired to the lounging room, where 
drawn up in the usual half circle, before 
the blazing log fire, we compared notes, 
and talked over the day’s happenings. 
A RISING just after sunrise on Sun- 
day morning, I quietly left the 
house, and walked rapidly across 
the meadow, towards the southern outlet 
of the Crab Pond. It was a beautiful 
morning; the sun shone brightly, and a 
pleasant wind was blowing, while from 
the distant Dry Flats came the gabble of 
feeding wild geese. Soon I came to the 
outlet of the pond, and there on a little 
whisp of duck grass, at the very verge 
of the outlet, lay my rara avis, a beauti- 
ful drake of a species entirely unknown 
to me. He lay on his back with his 
wings folded, just as the tide had left 
him. The rays of the sun, falling on his 
iridescent velvet head, made it glow like 
a ruby. Reverently I picked him up and 
admired his beauty. He was a plump 
bird, shaped like a widgeon, but of an 
entirely different color effect, having 
much more white in its plumage. His 
head was red, something like a red-head, 
but of a deeper wine color. It being 
the mating season, he was decked out 
in his wedding garments. Tenderly I 
smoothed his feathers and bore him to 
the house, where no one could name him, 
not even Bill Miller. Some said it was 
a hybrid red-head-widgeon, but in later 
years I have been led to believe it was 
a remarkably fine specimen of the Euro- 
pean Widgeon. I was a boy then of 
eighteen, and in forty-seven more years 
shooting on the beautiful Barnegat, I 
have never killed another like him. 
Forty-five years ago the European 
widgeon was indeed a rare bird, but of 
late years it has been frequently re- 
corded. The bird men have noted its cap- 
ture in about sixteen states and pro- 
vinces, of which New Jersey is one. The 
records go back to the decade between 
1870 and 1880, and indeed the New Jer- 
sey record, we believe, was 1883. The 
European widgeon, though still a scarce 
bird seems to be growing more plentiful 
as the years go by. — [EDITORS.] 
hardest conditions. Made of 
Olive Green Khaki or Red Flan- 
nel, has rubberized lining, which 
makes it absolutely waterproof. 
Cap has Fur or Flannel inside 
band to be pulled down over 
ears in cold weather. Outside rim also 
can be turned down, preventing water or 
snow running down back of neck. This 
Is the best and most practical cap ever 
made for autoist and all who are much out- 
doors. See them at your dealer’s. If he 
will not supply you we will send prepaid 
on receipt of Express or P, O. Money 
Order for $2.60. Write for booklet of 
Other styles, including Auto Caps. 
Do not send 
personal 
check. 
Mention size 
wanted and 
your dealer's 
name. 
PRICE 
$ 2.50 
Dept. S 
Beware of ImStioti 
Look for Label 
ia Every Cq) 
JONES HAT COMPANY MISSOURI 
ITHACA 
WINS 
This is Johnny 
Johnson, the great- 
est hunter on the 
South Carolina 
Coast. His record 
of 16 deer without 
a miss was made 
with an Ithaca Cun 
with buck- 
shot. He shoots an 
Ithaca because it is 
the best gun on 
earth. 
Catalog free 
Double gnna, includ- 
ing war tax, $45 
and up. Single trap 
gun., including war 
tax, from $700 down. 
ITHACA GUN CO. 
Box 25 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
TENOR BANJO 
Ukulele, Hawaiian Guitar, Violin, 
Mandolin, Guitar, Cornet or Banjo 
Wonderful new system of teaching: note music by mail. To first 
pnpils in each locality, we give a $20 superb Violin, Mandolin, 
Ukulele, Guitar, Hawaiin Guitar, Cornet. Tenor Banjo or Banjo abso- 
lutely free. Very small charge for lessons only. We guarantee suc- 
1 cess or no charge. Complete outfit free. Write now. No obligation. 
SLINGERLAND SCHOOL OF MUSIC, inc. Dept. 153 CHICAGO, ILL. 
THOUSANDS OF WILD DUCKS 
can be attracted to the lakes, rivers and 
f ionds near you if you plant the foods they 
ove— WILD CELERY, Wild Rice, ^ 
Duck Potato, etc. Wild Duck 
attractions my specialty. 
Used by largest presences — ^ 
and clubs. Write for infor- 
mation and prices. 
TERRELL, Naturalist 
Dept. H-42. Oshkosh, Wis. 
I 
Bpin ri iS.10 
PM 
Your Fur Skins \ 
TannedandDressed 
Ladies’ and Men’s Fur Coats 
Scarfs, Muffs, Fur Rugs. Etc., 
made to order from your own catch 
or from furs you buy cheap fro^ 
trappers, cost much less lhan the 
same articles purchased ready- mads. 
We own and operate the largest fn- 
tanning and dressing plant ,n .™ 3 
West and are especially prepared to 
reduce consumer cost on furs by this 
direct handling — “from catch to fac- 
tory and back to you.” 
BEAUTIFUL FUR FRFF 
CATALOG r 
Its 16 pages, richly illustrated, tell exactly 
what you want to know about styles of 
furs, cost of tanning and dressing, cost 
of making various furs, rugs. etc. Send 
for this catalog today. It's Free. 
JONAS BROS., Ind furmIrI Jtt 
1019 Broadway DENVER, COLO. , 
Branch: Livingston, Mont. t*? 
IMPORTED HOSIERY J 
For Golf, Tennis and Sport Wear 
IN ATTRACTIVE DESIGNS FOR 
MEN AND WOMEN 
111 
No. 15 
J AFinestScotchWoolTennis Sock sin white. 
DO.IV^iay, green, black, heather and | CA 
white* with colored clocks, a pair 1 v 
1 Cj Men’s Finest Scotch Wool Golf Hose, 
*** in green, gray, brown and O CA 
heather (without feet $0), a pair 
w Complete line Golf, Tennis and Sport equipment, j 
r Mail Orders given prompt attention. f 
S Stewart Sporting Sales Co. ) 
G 425 FIFTH AVE., at 38 th St., N. Y. | 
SPogoeksosoe Hoscy 
