1 62 Miscellaneous Facts and Observations. 



ing found it there, it is not improbable, that they will 

 visit us every winter. 



" I have not been able to ascertain, that they eat 

 any thing besides this root. Their superior flavour 

 is attributed to their living wholly on it, and the cir- 

 cumstance of their leaving their usual feeding places, 

 and coming so far in search of it, seems to strengthen 

 this opinion." 



Matthias Barton, Esq. 

 Letter, dated Lancaster, August 29ib, 

 1805. 



The Canvas-Back here spoken of, and so much 

 admired, as an article of food, in the United- States, 

 is the Anas ferina of Linnaeus ; the Anas Penelope of 

 Brisson. It is, also, a native of Britain, where it is 

 known by the names of Pochard, or Dun-bird, Great 

 Red-headed Wigeon, 8cc., &c. The plant whose root 

 is said to be the favourite food of this species of duck, 

 is a species of the singular genus of Valiisneria, which 

 I have called Valiisneria americana, and concerning 

 which I have read a memoir to the American Philo- 

 sophical Society. Perhaps, it is the Valiisneria ame- 

 ricana of Michaux. Flora Boreali- Americana, fc?c. 

 torn. 2. p. 220. 



■* Editor. 



i 



10. A memoir has been read beibre the American 

 Philosophical Society, in which the author has shown, 



