THE WOOD-DUCK, AND SMALLER VARIETIES. 285 



teal, it requires hard hitting to bring it down : thus No. 6 

 shot will be found most useful for their pursuit. 



Smaller Varieties. 



Independent of Chesapeake Bay being visited by such 

 immense swarms of canvas-back ducks, there are thousands 

 of red-heads and black-heads, all excellent birds for the 

 table, and larger than English widgeon, besides quantities 

 of bald pates, teal, and many smaller species of wild fowl 

 denominated by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood 

 respectively dipper ducks, southerlies, and whistlers all of 

 which are remarkable for their beautiful plumage, and their 

 activity, whether swimming or on the wing. 



It is very seldom in winter, during any weather, that 

 sport is not to a certain extent marred by these little 

 beauties, more especially by the dippers, for they are such 



BALD PATES. 



little rogues, thieves, and impudent withal, that whenever 

 they see decoy ducks set out they are bound to visit them. 

 The reason they do so is this : they imagine that the 

 imitation birds are a veritable flock of canvas-backs feeding, 



