////: c.i vi i--/.' i ''A' IHTK. 



editor of thb edition shot one at l-Wi .letTerson. Tortuir.is; iieiii;,' ill.- only example WMI f hen- 

 d ii riii;: se\eral \ear- 



Tm r\N\ v~ i \. K (AHhyia naUifruri-n inhabits ti,,. \\h,,].- ,,( North America. Breeds 

 fn.m tin- Northern Slates. n<>i iliNvanl, and winters from tin- Middle States, southward. to 

 (Juatemala. Tlii- i;n-ai!\ an< I justly esteemed edible Duck is found on the Cheaupauke Bay 

 alMiut the iiiidillt- nf <>. !..!.. i. It fiequcnts in great numlM-rs all tin- i>rinri|ial streams in the 

 Mid<! . and winter-, tli.-ie. feedim: on tin- delicate water-plant called wild celery (vaUit- 



w/TiVi), which is said to give tin- ll.-li its delicate tla\..r. ( >n tin- 1'oiomac River it is <-all.il 

 While lacks. 



So valuable are Canvas-backs. the -|K.ri-in.-ii ..,ntri\.- various ways to procure them. A 

 fa\<. i it.- on.- is i. loll" ill. .irds H|IOIV, near when* the gunner i* hidden lieliiiid an 



ambush. A dog is taught to swim leisurely <>n the wafers where the l.irds an- abundant. 

 The latter are no shy. it is inijiossible t<> p-t within gunshot while excised to their view. 

 The Ducks an- curious alioul any mov in.-ni-. tin- dog makes, and gradually swim near the 

 masked battery, when more or less I. inls are secured la-fore they an- aware of the stratap-m. 

 During the day they are dispersed ai>out ; l.nt towanls i-\.-nin^ they collect in largo ll.x-ks and 

 pi into (he creeks, wh.-ie they ride as at anchor, with their heads under their win^, a.sleep. 

 there In-iiiir always s<-ntinebi awaike, ready to niise an alarm mi the hiiHt ap]M^ininra of danger. 

 K\.'ii when fe-<linic and diving in small [wirtios, some are always left to jfiiartl the Hock. 



1 Miring the s.-v.-resi winters, the Cam:,- l.a k- -"iiffer consideral.lv fn.m their favorite 

 fe-<ling-places U-ing fro/en up. They tly up and down stn-am in gniit numbers, crowding 

 around the holes in the ice, or where the more OJM-II bay affords diving-places. AudulNni 

 i.-^:nd- ill-- r.inp- f the ( anva-s I nick at fi'-m ill-- ...... nli- "f iln- Mi-^i>-i]'|'i Ki\.-i t.. ilie 



Hudson River. It breeds in all ]irt> of the fur countries. ]>r. Khurplrati sayH : "The Chesa- 

 peake Bay has, with its tributary streams, been long known as the greatest resort for water 

 fowl in the I nited States. This has di-]iended on tin- profusion of their favorite food, which 

 is accessible on the immense flats m -d. aN that are found near the mouth of the Susqueluinna 

 River, and on the hores of the Lay and connecting stn-jims, as far south an York and the 

 James Rivers. Though great numbers yet resort then-, not more than one half an- noticed in 

 late years. Nearly a dozen other s].ecies of Dn.ks accompany them in these waters. The 

 most singular faot of the bursting of the bodies of the Cam as back in often noticed; the 

 abundance of food pnnnptin^ them to fis-d until they an- enormously fat. 



AudiilMMi says: "To a stranger visiting thes.- waters, the innumerable Dtirks feeding in 

 beds of thousands, or tilling the air w ith their career!!!::, with the irn-at numbers of the beauti- 

 ful white swans resting near the short*, like banks of driven snow, might induce him to suppose 

 the facilities for their destruction wen- equal to their profusion, and that with so large an 

 object in view a sportsman could scarcely miss his aim. But the gn-at thickness ..f their 

 co\ .-ring, the velocity of their tliglit, the rapidity and duration of their diving, offer obstacles 

 of great moment." 



AiidulMin d.-scriU's at mon- detail the sjnLr'ilar habit.s of this Iuck. which n-nder it easily 

 " fooled," and therefore more retidily captun-d by the s{>ortsman. ''Most ]-rsons <.n these 

 waters have a race of small white or liver-colored dogs, which they familiarly call 'toler' 

 breed, but which appear to be the ordinary ]x>odle. These are extn-inely j.layful, and are 

 taught to run up and down the shore, in sL'ht of the I>u-ks. either by the motion of the hand 

 or by throwing chips from side to side. They soon become j>erfectly acquainted with their 

 business, and as they discover the In. -ks approaching them, make their jumps less high, till 

 they almost crawl on the gn.und. to prevent the birds discovering what the object maybe. 

 This disposition to examine rarities has been taken advantage of by using red or black hand- 

 kerchiefs by day, and a white one by night, by 'toling,' or even by gently plashing the water 

 on the shore. The nearest Ducks soon take notice, at the strange np|<earance. raise their 

 heads, gaze intently for a few minutes, and then push for the shore, followed by the rest On 

 many occasions. I have seen thousands swimming in a solid mass direct to the object; and by 

 removing the dog farther in the grass, they have been brought within fifteen feet of the bonk." 



