alae 
The wood duck, which breeds regularly in the State is one of our 
most beautiful ducks. Under the Federal law the shooting of this duck 
is prohibited until 1918. 
It is only within recent years that the sportsmen have regarded the 
eoot (mud hen) as a bird worthy of his skill. But the increase in 
sportsmen and the decrease in our wild fowl has made the coot an 
attraction for the sportsmen. He is not as good as a duck but where 
ducks are scarce the shooter does not hesitate to fill his game bag with 
the once despised mud hen. 
Wood Duck. 
Brant and geese follow the same courses to the North and South 
that our ducks take, but they are not disposed to remain in our waters 
very long while on their migrations. Both are exceedingly wary birds 
and keep away as much as possible from the shooting territory frequented 
by sportsmen. 
NON-GAME BIRDS. 
It is an important duty of the commission to consider the welfare 
of our song and insectivorous birds of all description, for these birds 
