BIRDS OP MINNESOTA. 5r 



AYTHYA YALLISNERIA (Wilson). (147.) 



CANVAS-BACK. 



Although so famous among sportsmen and epicures at the 

 seaboard, this species loses its preferments in our waters, and 

 upon our Minnesota tables, taking a second place in both. As a 

 general thing they appear to reach us about the same time as 

 the Redheads do, but this is not always the case for, as inti- 

 mated when speaking of the latter, it may abound when the 

 Canvas-back entirely fails to put in an appearance, as in 1863. 

 In the following year — that is, in 1864 — the Red heads were 

 barely represented, while the present species were exceptionally 

 common for the species. Again in 1886, they were common in 

 the autumn, but sparingly represented in the preceding spring. 



When observed in the spring migration, they remain about 

 two weeks, and are then found on lakes, streams and 

 marshy ponds, feeding upon aquatic vegetation, crustaceans, 

 molhiscs, insects and larvee of different kinds. They never 

 appear to scruple about appropriating a small fish that comes 

 in their way upon occasion. They return from the north 

 ordinarily about the first week in October, and after a stay of 

 about two weeks, or a little more, move on southward. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill long, slender and tapering; head all around and neck 

 chestnut; top of head and region around the base of the bill 

 dusky brown; rest of neck, body anterior to the shoulders, 

 back behind, rump and tail coverts, black; under parts white; 

 region anterior to anus, sides, interscapulars and scapulars, 

 white, finely dotted in transverse lines with black the white 

 greatly predominating; speculum bluish-gray lighter extern- 

 ally; innermost secondaries of the speculum edged externally 

 with black; iris carmine. 



Length, 20; wing, 9.30; tarsus, 1.70; commissure, 2.65. 



Habitat, nearly all of North America. 



I have always been incredulous as to the special claims of 

 this duck for the table, and having enjoyed ample opportunities 

 for comparisons, which not only embrace different species, but 

 the same species inland and on the seaboards of both coasts, I 

 do not hesitate to say that whether obtained in one or the other 

 section, the culinary preparation being equal, the Canvas-back 

 is equally desirable for eating, and that but for "the seaboard 

 fashion" in the case, this duck would, instead of having the 

 first place in epicurean distinction, have one much nearer 

 to the second. Duck-meat, like a good many other things, is 

 affected very much by the "environments" when eaten. A 

 good cook is the chief one of those, and a good appetite stands 

 next. To under value the Canvas- bacK: is an inland "fastiion." 



