112 CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 



his load, wliich seemed suiBcient to drag liim beneatt the waves. The 

 editor having been an eye-witness of similar feats of these noble animals, 

 can therefore speak with confidence as to the fact. 



On the Delaware but few of this species, comparatively, are obtained, 

 for the want of proper situations whence they may be shot on the wing. 

 To attempt to approach them, in open day, with a boat, is unproductive 

 labor, except there be floating ice in the river, at which time, if the 

 shooter clothe himself in white, and paint his skiif of the same color, he 

 may so deceive the Ducks as to get within a few feet of them. At such 

 times it is reasonable to suppose that these valuable birds get no quarter. 

 But there is one caution to be observed, which experienced sportsmen 

 never omit : it is to go always %vith the current ; a Duck being sagacious 

 enough to know that a lump of ice seldom advances against the stream. 

 They are often shot, with us, by moonlight, in the mode related in the 

 foregoing account ; the first pair the editor ever killed was in this man- 

 ner ; he was then a boy, and was not a little gratified with his uncommon 

 acquisition. 



As the Valisneria will grow in all our fresh-water rivers, in coves, or 

 places not affected by the current, it would be worth the experiment to 

 transplant this vegetable in those waters where it at present is unknown. 

 There is little doubt the Canvas-backs would, by this means, be attracted ; 

 and thus would afford the lovers of good eating an opportunity of tasting 

 a delicacy, which, in the opinion of many, is unrivalled by the whole 

 feathered race. 



In the spring, when the Duck-grass becomes scarce, the Canvas-backs 

 are compelled to subsist upon other food, particularly shell-fish ; their 

 flesh then loses its delicacy of flavor, and although still fat, it is not 

 esteemed by epicures ; hence the Ducks are not much sought after ; and 

 are permitted quietly to feed until their departure for the north. 



Our author states that he had had no certain accounts of this species 

 to the southward of James river, Virginia. In the month of January, 

 1818, I saw many hundreds of these Ducks feeding in the Savannah 

 river, not far from Tybee light-house. They were known by the name 

 of Canvas-backs ; but the inhabitants of that quarter considered them 

 as fishing Ducks, not fit to be eaten : so said the pilot of the ship which 

 bore me to Savannah. But a pair of these birds having been served up 

 at table, after my arrival, I was convinced, by their delicate flavor, that 

 they had lost little by their change of residence, but still maintained 

 their superiority over all the water fowl of that region. In the river 

 St. John, in East Florida, I also saw a few scattered individuals of this 

 species ; but they were too shy to be approached within gunshot. 



The Canvas-backs swim very low, especially when fat ; and when 

 pursued by a boat, they stretch themselves out in lines, in the manner 

 of the Scaup Ducks, so that some of the flock are always enabled to 



