THE CANVAS-BACK. 793 



our game-birtls is a proper subject for in(|uiry on our jjarl, and we are willing 

 to testify as far as experience enables us. But as to the tiavor of the Canvas- 

 back, we are not a court of last appeal. We have never dined at Sherry's, 

 where, we are told, the price of ducks is measured b)' eagles. Moreover, 

 the "wild celery" ( ] 'allisiieria spiralis.) which is the orthodox diet of the 

 Can\-as-back, grows in Maryland and not in Washington. On the whole, 

 therefore, we are willing to accept the conclusions of the late Dr. Elliot 

 Coues : "When feeding on wild celery the tlesh acquires a peculiarly fine 

 fla\or, which has gained for the bird great renown among gastronomers; 

 but its iiesh is of no special excellence under other circumstances, in fact 

 inferior to that of most River Ducks (Aiiatiiuc). There is little reason for 

 squealing in barbaric joy over this o\er-rated and generally under-done bird ; 

 not one person in ten thousand can tell it from any other Duck on the 

 table, and then only under the celery circumstance just said." Certainly 

 a Canvas-back which has fed for two weeks or a month on our marine worms 

 and crustaceans, with a few decayed salmon for relish, has little to offer a 

 fastidious palate. 



The sportsmen of Washington, howe\er, have little need to disturb 

 themseh'es as to how their Can\'as-backs are going to taste, fur the birds are 

 far from plentiful at an)- season of the year. They seldom arri\e before the 

 middle of December, after which time they may occasional!)- be found in small 

 tiocks, either in our fresh water lakes, or on the open water ()\-er against our 

 tide-flats. In the central part of the State tlie\- often remain unlil well into the 

 sumnier, and a few p;iirs undinibtetlh- Ijreed along the reed\- margins of the 

 lakes in that region. 



The food of the Can\-as-l.)ack is almost alwa)-s obtained by di\-ing, the 

 vegetation being pulled up and the succulent roots eaten. \\'hen the birds 

 come to the surface with bills laden with the co\eted herbage, they are fre- 

 quently set u])on and robbed b)' Widgeon and ntlier ducks, which have 

 assembled for the purpose. 



Considerable uncertainty exists as to the relative abundance of Canvas- 

 backs and Redheads. E\-en in hand Redheads are often reported by sports- 

 men as Canvas-backs, and z'icc I'crsa. The resemljlances are striking, but 

 the ditTerences are unniistakable, the best single mark of distinction being 

 the sloping forehead of the Can\as-back, without noticeable angle at the 

 base of the bill. The back of this bird, also, is much lighter in color. B(_ith 

 birds, moreo\-er, bear a striking superficial resemblance tc) the females of 

 the larger Mergansers, and many a poor "Saw-bill" has fallen victim to 

 snap judgment in this regard. The Canvas-back is a hea\'ier bird than any 

 of the others mentioned, for when fattened on eel-grass it may weigh as 

 high as five or six pounds. 



