“Your invitation to Julia’s wedding was received—was accepted. And you did not know me, dear aunt—nay, you would not know me! You could trust your daughter’s happiness to a stranger, but not to one whom she has known and loved from childhood! The fond hopes of years you could recklessly destroy, uncaring for the anguish you might inflict—or of your daughter’s peace of mind—wrecked perhaps forever! All this you could do. But to assure you that your child’s happiness will be safe in the hands of your _chosen_ son-in-law, I gratefully acknowledge myself that happy person! “Your affectionate _nephew_ and _son_, “FRANCIS REEVE.” “P. S.—Julia sends her dutiful love.” * * * * * GAME-BIRDS OF AMERICA.—NO. III. [Illustration] COMMON DUCK OR MALLARD. The common wild duck is the one which is usually meant when the word duck is used without any other qualification, and it is the species which is most frequently seen in the markets. They breed in all parts of the country, from Pennsylvania north as far as the inland woody districts of the fur countries, and it is met with everywhere in Europe, up to Spitzbergen. As a bird of passage it is seen in every part of the United States, always showing more activity in the night than in the day; its conduct even in a domesticated state presenting evidences of noisy watchfulness in the evening and at dawn. Its food is small fish, fry snails, aquatic insects and plants, and all kinds of seeds and grain. In England, ducks are very highly esteemed, and many expedients are resorted to by the fowlers who supply the London markets with this kind of food. Some account of their operations may prove interesting as well as instructive. The chief method employed in capturing them is the decoy, and instances have been known of eight hundred pounds being cleared in one year by a single decoy on the Essex coast. These decoys consist, in the first place, of an expanse of water which is called the pond, and which is placed in the shelter of reeds, and generally speaking also of bushes. The banks of the pond are left clear for some little way, so that the birds may rest upon land, and, in short, this portion of the contrivance is made as tempting as possible, as much of the success depends upon this requisite. But though the ducks resort to the pond in vast numbers, and pass the day in an inactive state, yet still great skill, or at all events practice, is required in examining the pond, because they are exceedingly watchful, take wing on the least alarm, and do not readily settle. The sense of smelling is remarkably acute in these birds, as one might naturally suppose from the margins of their bills being so copiously supplied with nerves. In consequence of