SEA DUCKS. 215 



of the descriptions of the two birds, will indicate well marked 

 differences in shape and color, by which they may always be dis- 

 tinguished. The male of the present species has the head and 

 neck of a deep chestnut color more or less obscured with dusky ; 

 colors of other parts like the preceding species but, on the back 

 the white predommates, attd the black lines are faint and much 

 broken up. The iris is red. Bill longer than head, narrow, 

 high at base, nostrils median. Length about twenty inches. To 

 any one who compares specimens of the two birds, the differences 

 will be very apparent, and we venture to say that no one who has 

 done this will ever again mistake one species for the other. 



The Canvas-back is distributed more or less abundantly 

 throughout the whole of Northern America. In the interior it is 

 found in winter as far south as New Orleans, bui on the Atlantic 

 coast probably does not proceed much south of Georgia. On the 

 Pacific Slope it is abundant, extending its migrations in winter, 

 nearly or quite as far as the southern boundary of the United 

 States. In Southern California they are especially abundant on 

 small lakes and pools, seeming to confine themselves entirely to 

 fresh water, and only when disturbed and driven from such places, 

 visiting the esieros, where the water is brackish. The summer 

 home of this bird is in the far North, and it is said to breed in 

 great numbers in Alaska. 



Chesapeake Bay is the most noted ground for Canvas-backs in 

 the country, and here until recently they were frightfully persecu- 

 ted by means of sink boxes and swivel guns. 



A few years ago. Canvas-backs showed a marked decline in 

 numbers, and their absolute slaughter from these murderous en- 

 gines, led to the enactment of stringent laws for their protection. 

 Although they are but little used at present, a brief description of 

 the sink-boat may interest the reader. 



The sink-boat or battery was a long, narrow box, about large 

 enough to contain a man and two or three guns. It was loaded 

 with old iron, so that it could be sunk nearly flush with the water's 

 edge. From stem, stern and sides floating wings projected, which, 

 rising and falling with the waves, prevented the water from rush- 

 ing into the battery. The unwieldy machine was usually towed to 

 a place on the flats where the ducks congregated, and the shooter, 



