108 CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 



approacli within fifteen oi' twenty yards of a flock of many thousands, 

 among whom he generally makes great slaughter. 



Many other stratagems are practised, and indeed every plan that the 

 ingenuity of the experienced sportsman can suggest, to approach within 

 gunshot of these birds ; but of all the modes pursued, none intimidate 

 them so much as shooting them by night ; and they soon abandon the 

 place where they have been thus repeatedly shot at. During the day 

 they are dispersed about ; but towards evening collect in large flocks, 

 and come into the mouths of creeks, where they often ride as at anchor, 

 with their head under their wing, asleep, there being always sentinels 

 awake ready to raise an alarm on the least appearance of danger. 

 Even when feeding and diving in small parties, the whole never go down 

 at one time, but some are still left above on the look- out. 



When the winter sets in severely, and the river is frozen, the Canvas- 

 backs retreat to its confluence with the bay, occasionally frequenting 

 air holes in the ice, which are sometimes made for the purpose, imme- 

 diately above their favorite grass, to entice them Avithin gunshot of the 

 hut or bush which is usually fixed at a proper distance, and where the 

 gunner lies concealed, ready to take advantage of their distress. A 

 Mr. Hill, who lives near James river, at a place called Herring Creek, 

 informs me, that one severe winter he and another person broke a hole 

 in the ice about twenty by forty feet, immediately over a shoal of grass, 

 and took their stand on the shore in a hut of brush, each having three 

 guns well loaded with large shot. The Ducks, which were flying up 

 and down the river in great extremity, soon crowded to this place, so 

 that the whole open space was not only covered with them, but vast 

 numbers stood on the ice around it. They had three rounds firing both 

 at once, and picked up eighty-eight Canvas-backs, and might have 

 collected more had they been able to get to the extremity of the ice 

 after the wounded ones. In the severe winter of 1779-80, the grass, 

 on the roots of which these birds feed, was almost wholly destroyed in 

 James river. In the month of January the Avind continued to blow from 

 W. N. W. for twenty-one days, which caused such low tides in the river 

 that the grass froze to the ice everywhere, and a thaw coming on sud- 

 denly, the whole was raised by the roots and carried ofi" by the fresh. 

 The next winter a few of these Ducks were seen, but they soon went 

 away again ; and for many years after, they continued to be scarce ; 

 and even to the present day, in the opinion of my informant, have never 

 been so plenty as before. 



The Canvas-back, in the rich juicy tenderness of its flesh, and its 

 delicacy and flavor, stands unrivalled by the whole of its tribe in this or 

 perhaps any other quarter of the world. Those killed in the waters of 

 the Chesapeake are generally esteemed superior to all others, doubtless 

 from the great abundance of their favorite food which these rivers pro- 



