THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 509 



many places so thick that a boat can with difficulty be rowed 

 through it, it so impedes the oars. The shores are lined with large 

 quantities of it, torn up by the Ducks, and drifted up by the winds, 

 lying, like hay, in windrows. Wherever this plant grows in abun- 

 dance, the Canvas-backs may be expected, either to pay occasional 

 visits, or to make it their regular residence during the winter. It 

 occurs in some parts of the Hudson ; in the Delaware, near Glou- 

 cester, a few miles below Philadelphia ; and in most of the rivers 

 that fall into the Chesapeake, to each of which particular places 

 these Ducks resort ; while, in waters unprovided with this nutri- 

 tive plant, they are altogether unknown. 



" On the first arrival of these birds in the Susquehanna, near 

 Havre-de- Grace, they are generally lean ; but such is the abundance 

 of their favorite food, that, towards the beginning of November, 

 they are in pretty good order. They are excellent divers, and 

 swim with great speed and agility. They sometimes assemble in 

 such multitudes as to cover several acres of the river, and, when 

 they rise suddenly, produce a noise resembling thunder. They 

 float abput these shoals, diving, and tearing up the grass by the 

 roots, which is the only part they eat. They are extremely shy, 

 and can rarely be approached, unless by stratagem. When wound- 

 ed in the wing, they dive to such prodigious distances, and with 

 such rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly, and with such cun- 

 ning and active vigor, as almost always to render the pursuit hope- 

 less. From the great demand for these Ducks, and the high price 

 they uniformly bring in market, various modes are practised to get 

 within gunshot of them. The most successful way is said to be 

 decoying them to the shore by means of a dog, while the gunner 

 lies closely concealed in a proper situation. The dog, if properly 

 trained, plays backwards and forwards along the margin of the 

 water ; and the Ducks, observing his manoeuvres, enticed perhaps 

 by curiosity, gradually approach the shore, until they are sometimes 

 within twenty or thirty yards of the spot where the gunner lies 

 concealed, and from which he rakes them, first on the water, and 

 then as they rise. This method is called tolling them in. If the 

 Ducks seem difficult to decoy, any glaring object, such as a red 

 handkerchief, is fixed round the dog's middle or to his tail ; and this 

 rarely fails to attract them. Sometimes, by moonlight, the sports- 



