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THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 509 
many places so thick that a boat can with difficulty be rowed 
through it, it so impedes the oars. The shores are lined with large 
quantities of it, torn up by the Ducks, and drifted up by the winds, 
lying, like hay, in windrows. Wherever this plant grows in abun- 
dance, the Canvas-backs may be expected, either to pay occasional 
visits, or to make it their regular residence during the winter. It 
occurs in some parts of the Hudson; in the Delaware, near Glou- 
cester, a few miles below Philadelphia; and in most of the rivers 
that fall into the Chesapeake, — to each of which particular places 
these Ducks resort; while, in waters unprovided with this nutri- 
tive plant, they are altogether unknown. 
“On the first arrival of these birds in the Susquehanna, near 
Havre-de-Grace, they are generally lean; but such is the abundance 
of their favorite food, that, towards the beginning of November, 
they are in pretty good order. They are excellent divers, and 
swim with great speed and agility. They sometimes assemble in 
such multitudes as to cover several acres of the river, and, when 
they rise suddenly, produce a noise resembling thunder. They 
float about these shoals, diving, and tearing up the grass by the 
roots, which is the only part they eat. They are extremely shy, 
and can rarely be approached, unless by stratagem. When wound- 
ed in the wing, they dive to such prodigious distances, and with 
such rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly, and with such cun- 
ning and active vigor, as almost always to render the pursuit hope- 
less. From the great demand for these Ducks, and the high price 
they uniformly bring in market, various modes are practised to get 
within gunshot of them. The most successful way is said to be 
decoying them to the shore by means of a dog, while the gunner 
lies closely concealed in a proper situation. The dog, if properly 
trained, plays backwards and forwards along the margin of the 
water; and the Ducks, observing his manceuvres, enticed perhaps 
by curiosity, gradually approach the shore, until they are sometimes 
within twenty or thirty yards of the spot where the gunner lies 
concealed, and from which he rakes them, first on the water, and 
then as they rise. This method is called tolling them in. If the 
Ducks seem difficult to decoy, any glaring object, such as a red 
handkerchief, is fixed round the dog’s middle or to his tail ; and this 
rarely fails to attract them. Sometimes, by moonlight, the sports- 
