isen to the surface. These were strung together,
and all had their necks broken.

After getting them aboard, the canoe was cleared of the bushes; and the
paddles being once more called into service, the little craft shot
down-stream like an arrow.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE DUCKS OF AMERICA.

Lucien now continued his "monograph" of the American ducks.

"There are," said he, "more than two dozen species of ducks on the
waters of North America. These the systematists have divided into no
less than _eighteen genera_! Why it would be more easy to learn all
that ever was known about all the ducks in creation, than to remember
the eighteen generic names which these gentlemen have invented and put
forward. Moreover, the habits of any two species of these ducks are
more similar than those of any two kinds of dogs. Why then, I should
ask--why this complication? It is true that the ducks do not resemble
each other in every thing. Some species are fonder of water than
others. Some feed entirely upon vegetable substances; others upon small
fish, insects, crustacea, etcetera. Some live entirely in the sea;
others make their home in the freshwater lakes and rivers, while many
species dwell indifferently, either in salt or fresh waters. Some love
the open wave; others the sedgy marsh; while one or two species roost
upon trees, and build their nests in the hollow trunks. Notwithstanding
all this, there is such a similarity in the appearance and habits of the
different species, that I think the systematists have improved but
little, if anything, upon the simple arrangement of the true naturalist
Wilson, who--poor Scotch _emigre_ as he was, with an empty purse and a
loaded gun--has collected more original information about the birds of
America than all that have followed him. He described the ducks of
America under the single genus _Anas_; and, in my opinion, described
them in a more intelligent and intelligible manner than any one has done
since his time--not even excepting another great and true naturalist,
whose career has been longer, more successful, and happier; and whose
fame, in consequence of his better fortune, has become, perhaps, higher
and more extended.

"The water-fowl of America," continued Lucien--"I mean the swans, geese,
and ducks, are of great importance in the fur countries where we are now
travelling. At certain seasons of the year, in many parts, they furnish
almost the only article of food that