742 



DUCK. 



America. This is the original stock of the domesti- 

 cated duck, which appears to have been reclaimed 

 at a very early period. It is found in every fresh 

 water lake and river of the Tinted States, in winter, 

 but seldom frequents the sea shores or salt marshes. 

 During the summer, it resides in the north, along 

 with the immense flocks of other water-fowl that 

 retire thither for the i>ur|x>se of breeding. A few 

 pairs, however, occasionally met, remain in the 

 Middle Slates during the whole year. The nest is 

 usually placed in the most solitary recesses of a 

 marsh or bog, among coarse grass, reeds, and rushes, 

 and generally contains from twelve to sixteen eggs, 

 of a dull greenish-white. 



The flesh of the wild duck is held in general estima- 

 tion, and various methods are resorted to, in order to 

 obtain these birds in quantities. In Picardy, in 

 France, vast numbers are taken in decoys, and sold in 

 the Paris market, where, in one season, thirty thousand 

 francs have been paid for the produce of the small 

 lake of St Lambert. They also abound in Lincoln- 

 shire, in England, and are there taken in great quan- 

 tities, by nearly the same means as in Picardy. Pen- 

 nant had an account sent him of the produce of ten 

 decoys, which, in one winter, amounted to thirty-two 

 thousand two hundred. We are indebted to Wilson 

 (American Ornithology) for an enumeration of 

 several simple and effective contrivances made use 

 of, in America, for the capture of these wary 

 birds. In some ponds frequented by them, five or 

 six wooden figures, cut and painted to represent 

 ducks, and sunk by pieces of lead nailed to the bot- 

 tom, so as to float at the usual depth on the surface, 

 nre anchored in a favourable position to be raked 

 tram a concealment of brush, &c. These attract the 

 passing flocks, which alight, and thus expose them- 

 selves to certain destruction. In winter, when de- 

 tached pieces of ice are occasionally floating in the 

 river, some of the sportsmen on the Delaware paint 

 their boats white, and laying themselves flat in the 

 Iwttom, direct them almost imperceptibly near a 

 flock, before the ducks have distinguished them 

 from a floating piece of ice. On land, another stra- 

 tagem is sometimes practised with great success. A 

 tight hogshead is sunk in the marsh, or mud, near 

 the place where ducks are accustomed to feed at low 

 water, and where, otherwise, there is no shelter ; the 

 edges and top are artfully concealed with tufts of 

 long, coarse grass, and reeds or sedge. From within 

 this, the sportsman watches his collecting prey, and 

 usually commits great havoc. In China, the sports- 

 man covers his head with a calabash, pierced with 

 eye-holes, and, thus equipped, wades into the water, 

 keeping only his head above the surface, and, on 

 arriving amidst a flock, seizes them by the legs, fas- 

 tens them to his girdle, and thus takes as many as he 

 wishes, without disturbing the rest. 



Muscovy Duck (A. moschatd). This well known 

 bird is the largest of the duck kind, and approaches 

 nearly to the size of a goose. It has obtained its name 

 from a strong smell of musk, which exhales from its 

 body, and not because it comes from Russia as lias 

 been supposed. The Muscovy ducks are tamed in 

 great quantities in the West Indies, and are found 

 wild in Guiana, where they nestle on the trunks 

 of trees, close upon the water's edge. They 

 feed in the morning upon a plant called wild rice, 

 and seldom permit the sportsman to approach within 

 gunshot. 



Canvass-back duck (A. vallisneria). This deli- 

 rious bird is peculiar to America, and was known to 

 the epicure long before it was described by the na- 

 turalist. We are indebted to Wilson for the first 

 account, of it. He gave it the name of the plant on 

 which it feeds, and which had been called after the 



celebrated Vallisneri. The canvass-back ducks a> 

 rive in t lie United States, from the north, about the 

 middle of October, and, principally, assemble in the 

 numerous rivers in the neighbourhood of the Chesa- 

 peake bay. On the Susquehannah, they are called 

 canvass-backs, on the Potomac, white backs, and on 

 James' river, sheldrakes. When they first arrive, 

 they are very lean ; but from the abundance of their 

 favourite food, they become fat about November. 

 They are sometimes found in such multitudes as to 

 cover several acres. From the great demand for 

 these ducks, and the high price t hey always com- 

 mand, various methods are employed to decoy 

 them within gun-shot. The most successful is that 

 termed tolling, in which they are enticed to approach 

 the shore, by means of a dog properly trained. The 

 article in Wilson's work is extremely interesting, and 

 Mr Ord has made a long and valuable addition to it. 

 The canvass-back is constantly attended by another 

 species, the widgeon (A. Americana), which man- 

 ages to make a good subsistence from his labours. 

 This bird is extremely fond of the tender roots of 

 that particular species of plant on which the canvass- 

 back feeds. The widgeon, which never dives, 

 watches the moment the canvass-back rises, and, 

 before he has his eyes well opened, snatches the 

 morsel from his mouth , and makes off. 



Among other species of ducks are, A. clypeata, or 

 shoveller, remarkable for the strange form of its 

 bill. A. strepera, or gadwall, which is more rare in 

 America than in Europe. A. acuta, pintail, or 

 sprigtail, remarkable for the form of its tail ; it is 

 abundant in both hemispheres. A. obscura, black 

 or dusky duck, peculiar to America, and very abun- 

 dant ; this is perhaps the most sagacious and timid 

 of all the American ducks. A. sponsa, summer or 

 wood duck ; not more remarkable for its great 

 beauty, in which it stands pre-eminent, than for its 

 habits, its migrations being directly opposed to those 

 of the other species. A. discors, blue-winged teal. A. 

 crecca, green-winged teal. (See Teal.) A. mollis- 

 sima, eider duck (q. v.). A. perspicillata, black or 

 surf duck. This is common to both hemispheres, but 

 it is very rare in Europe. A.fusca, velvet duck, also 

 found in both hemispheres; its flavour is rank and fishy, 

 and it is therefore seldom sought after. A. nigra, sco- 

 ter ; found both in Europe and America ; these birds, 

 and a few others of the same fishy flavour, are ex- 

 empted from the interdict, which forbids Roman Ca- 

 tholics the use of animal food on certain days, on the 

 supposition of their being cold-blooded, and partak- 

 ing of the nature of fish. A. rubida, ruddy duck ; 

 this species was very rare in Wilson's time, but 

 has since become more plenty. A.ferina, red-head; 

 common to both continents ; it approaches very near 

 to the canvass-back in delicacy ; its usual weight is 

 about one pound and three quarters. A. marilla, 

 scaup duck or blue-bill, a well known and common 

 species in both continents. A. rufitorques, tufted 

 duck ; a species confounded with the A. fuligula of 

 Europe, until the differences were pointed out by the 

 prince of Musignano. (See Journ. Acad. Nat. Set., 

 vol. 3.) A . clangula, golden-eye ; common to both 

 hemispheres. A. albeola, buffet-head, or butter-ball ; 

 peculiar to America, where it is common. A. 

 glacialis, long-tailed duck, south southerly oldwife ; 

 common to both continents, remarkable for the long 

 and slender middle feathers of its tail. A. labrado- 

 ria, pied duck ; a beautiful and rare species, pecu- 

 liar to America. A. histrionica, harlequin duck ; a 

 magnificent species found on both continents ; it de- 

 rives its name from the singularity of its markings ; 

 along the coast of New England it is called the lord. 



DUCK ; a sort of strong, brown, linen cloth, ustxi 

 chiefly by sail-makers. 



