342 CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 



thunder. They float about these shoals, diving and tearing up 

 the grass by the roots, which is the only part they eat. They 

 are extremely shy, and can rarely be approached unless by stra- 

 tagem. When wounded in the wing they dive to such prodigious 

 distances, and with such rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly, 

 and with such cunning and active vigour, as almost always to 

 render the pursuit hopeless. From the great demand for these 

 Ducks, and the high price they uniformly bring in market, 

 various modes are practised to get within gunshot of them. The 

 most successful way is said to be, decoying them to the shore 

 by means of a dog, while the gunner lies closely concealed in a 

 proper situation. The dog, if properly trained, plays backwards 

 and forwards along the margin of the water, and the Ducks 

 observing his mano3uvres, enticed perhaps by curiosity, gradu- 

 ally approach the shore, until they are sometimes within twenty 

 or thirty yards of the spot where the gunner lies concealed, and 

 from which he rakes them, first on the water and then as they 

 rise. This method is called tolling them in. If the Ducks seem 

 difficult to decoy, any glaring object, such as a red handkerchief, 

 is fixed round the dog's middle, or to his tail, and this rarely 

 fails to attract them. Sometimes by moonlight the sportsman 

 directs his skiff towards a flock whose position he had previously 

 ascertained, keeping within the projecting shadow of some wood, 

 bank, or headland, and paddles along so silently and impercep- 

 tibly as often to approach within fifteen or twenty yards of a 

 flock of many thousands, among whom he generally makes great 

 slaughter. 



Many other stratagems are practised, and indeed every plan 

 that the ingenuity of the experienced sportsman can suggest, to 

 approach within gun shot of these birds; but of all the modes 

 pursued, none intimidate them so much as shooting them by 

 night; and they soon abandon the place where they have been 

 thus repeatedly shot at. During the day they are dispersed 

 about; but towards evening collect in large flocks, and come 

 into the mouths of creeks, where they often ride as at anchor, 

 with their head under their wing, asleep, there being always 



