THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 159 
swim to and fro, gradually approaching the decoys, 
then they hesitate as if debating whether or not they 
had better approach any nearer. The drakes are 
exceedingly shy, but the ducks having their curiosity 
aroused, it must be satisfied, and crowding ahead of 
the timid males, assume the leadership, and the drakes 
(poor fellows) are led into danger and death by femi- 
nine curiosity. There is a moral in this, but fearing 
the wrath of my lady friends, I forbear to mention it. 
They are a handsome bird, either flying or sitting on 
the water. As they fly along so swiftly, their long 
necks stretched out, the sun shining on their dark chest- 
nut heads, the strong light brings into distinct promi- 
nence the changing colors of their necks and bodies, 
and they show up conspicuously, their feathers so 
prettily blending together, forming colors of deep-brown- 
ish chestnut and lightish gray, often relieved by snowy 
whiteness. 
On the water they are equally pleasing to the eye 
as we see them sitting in some broad open lake, far 
from shore. Watching them unperceived we see them 
floating on its surface, idly, or with extended necks 
when the least alarmed,—their necks looking sadly 
out of proportion to their plump, short bodies. Their 
bills are made strong by nature, that they may forei- 
bly tear asunder bulbs and roots from the deep bottom 
of the lake. Near them at this time we often notice 
the sly widgeon, constantly showing its thievish pro- 
pensities. As the canvas-back appears on the surface, 
the widgeon rushes quickly upon it and snatches from 
it the sweet roots it dived so deeply to obtain. 
The canvas-backs are frequently confounded with 
red-heads, and I have witnessed discussions between 
