274 
THE WOOD DUCK. 
the syllables pe-ee, pe-ee. The watch-note of the male, which resembles 
hoe-eek, is never uttered by the female f 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 
patching 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 bayou 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 same 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 
