CANVAS-BACK. 271 



tliat the dainty canvas-back regales his fastidious appetite, dis- 

 daining the green blades, which are left to float off and strew the 

 shores of the bay for miles and miles. There are several species 

 of ducks that are as equally fond of the roots of the valisineria as 

 the canvas-backs ; but, not being as strong as this fowl, they are 

 not able to dive deep enough to seize the stock sufficiently near the 

 bottom to insure pulling the plant up by the roots. These ducks, 

 however, are always seen feeding with the canvas-back, and sup- 

 ply this deficiency in their physical construction to the adaptation 

 of their wants by a singular boldness and ingenuity. For acting 

 the part of skulking poachers, they attentively watch every opportu- 

 nity to seize upon the dainty morsel the very moment the canvas- 

 back makes his appearance on the top of the water with the root in 

 his mouth, and then, swimming ofi" rapidly to a convenient distance, 

 quietly enjoy the stolen repast, unmolested by their good-tempered 

 opponent, who soon dives down again for another honne-houcJie. 



Among these cunning pilferers, none are more conspicuous than 

 the red-heads and bald-pates, both of which are always found feed- 

 ing in company with the canvas-back, and at the height of the 

 season are not very far inferior to these ducks; and it oftentimes 

 puzzles the best judges to distinguish one from the other, when 

 properly served. We have seen the epicurean taste of some of our 

 sporting friends put to the test on this point more than once ; and 

 the mistakes which have been made on these occasions are conclusive 

 evidence of the great similarity in the flavor of these three varieties 

 of ducks during the particular period that they all feed exclusively 

 upon the roots of the valisineria. 



Although the canvas-backs are excessively fond of the bulbous 

 portions of the Valisineria Americana, and prefer it to any other 

 kind of food, they are not solely dependent upon this herbal pro- 

 duction for subsistence, but are obliged to resort to other species of 

 aquatic plants when driven from the rivers and flats of the upper 

 bay, by the large masses of floating ice, into regions where this 

 vegetable does not grow. When forced by this circumstance to quit 

 their favorite feeding-grounds, the canvas-backs betake themselves 



