144 DUCK SHOOTING. 



and another. Many of them are, therefore, not deHcate 

 food, although, on the other hand, the far-famed can- 

 vas-back, which belongs to this group, is one of the 

 choicest of our ducks. 



There are various strongly marked anatomical and 

 other differences within the group, which do not re- 

 quire consideration here. They are described at length 

 in various ornithological works. 



Mr. Elliot has pointed out that, as a rule, the notes of 

 these birds are harsh and guttural. 



While the fresh-water ducks usually spend their time 

 in the marshes and in fresh-water ponds during the 

 day, the sea ducks, as a rule, resort to wide stretches of 

 open water, where in moderate weather they rest dur- 

 ing the middle of the day, resorting to their feeding 

 grounds at evening, and sometimes feeding during the 

 night and well into the morning. 



