280 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



with some provisions required by the labourers employed 

 clearing land. Circumstances delayed me till almost mid- 

 day before I took up my sculls to commence my return 

 journey, and as I had some distance to go, and my craft 

 was light, small, and crank, I took a good survey of the 

 horizon to see that no squalls were brewing. No, not a 

 cloud hung on the horizon, not a breath of wind disturbed 

 the wonderful repose of the scene, and the two islands 

 which formed either side of a strait through which I had 

 to steer stood up exaggerated to double their size from the 

 refraction of the atmosphere. A strong pull and a long 

 pull disposed rapidly of space, and about half my journey 

 was accomplished, when to my surprise I saw about a 

 dozen black duck not twenty yards from my port oar. I 

 did not have a gun with me, so lost a chance which I 

 should have much liked to avail myself of. From curiosity 

 to learn how near I could possibly get to these generally 

 very timid birds I altered my course, and actually for ten 

 minutes, if not more, pulled after them, and although I 

 frequently came within a few yards, could not force them 

 to take the wing. To explain this unusual circumstance, I 

 have but one elucidation to offer, viz. that they had just 

 arrived from a long migratory journey from the north, and 

 the fatigue they had suffered temporarily incapacitated them 

 from flight. 



CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 



The canvas-back duck, considered by many to be the 

 greatest delicacy of all American game, is a magnificent 

 bird about the size of the mallard, and not unlike in 

 plumage the English widgeon. However, there is a marked 



