150 IVATER FOWL. 



ceeded in swiftness by that of any other Duck, and under 

 favorable circumstances it will doubtless accomplish one 

 hundred miles an hour. It generally flies in a direct 

 line as if it knew exactly where it was going, and often 

 at a great height. Its method of flying resembles very 

 closely that of the Red Head, and it moves along in 

 extended lines in the way described in the article on 

 that bird. It is also in the habit of exercising in the 

 early morning and late afternoons. The present spe- 

 cies comes 1)oldly to the decoys if it intends to approach 

 them, and often is so intent upon its wooden counter- 

 feits that it has no eyes for anything else, and will fly 

 right in, though possibly the sportsman may be standing 

 motionless in the blind. But no Duck can get on the 

 wing and be in full flight quicker than a Canvas Back, 

 and many has been the disappointed gunner who, vainly 

 imagining he was sure of his shot, but was taking 

 time to be certain of his aim, has seen both charges 

 from his gun strike the water 1)ehin(l the bird, whose 

 mighty spring and rapid action had already carried it 

 much farther and more quickly than its would-be cap- 

 tor had imagined. None can aim at a passing Canvas 

 Back with an}- chance of stopping it in full flight. If 

 there ever was a time when to " hold well ahead *' was 

 imperative, it is when shooting at this Duck passing by, 

 or quartering. 



Although this species comes so boldly to decoys, 

 there are other times when nothing will induce it to 

 draw near them, and then all the best imitation of its note 

 and the frantic efforts of the concealed sportsman to 

 attract its attention are unavailing. It simply goes upon 

 its way, utterly indifferent apparently to the society of 

 its fellows. Occasionally an individual will swing to- 

 ward the decoys without stopping his speed for a mo- 



