348 CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 



obeyed by them; and when unable to perceive the object of 

 their search, they will raise themselves in the water for this 

 purpose, and will not abandon the pursuit while a chance re- 

 mains of succeeding. A generous, well-trained dog, has been 

 known to follow a Duck for more than half a mile; and, after 

 having been long beyond the reach of seeing or hearing his 

 master, to return, puffing and snorting under his load, which 

 seemed sufficient to drag him beneath the waves. The Editor 

 having been an eye-witness of similar feats of these noble ani- 

 mals, can therefore speak with confidence as to the fact. 



On the Delaware but few of this species, comparatively, are 

 obtained, for the want of proper situations whence they may 

 be shot on the wing. To attempt to approach them, in open 

 day, with a boat, is unproductive labour, except there be float- 

 ing ice in the river, at which time, if the shooter clothe him- 

 self in white, and paint his skiff of the same colour, he may so 

 deceive the Ducks as to get within a few feet of them. At such 

 times it is reasonable to suppose that these valuable birds get no 

 quarter. But there is one caution to be observed, which expe- 

 rienced sportsmen never omit: it is to go always with the cur- 

 rent; a Duck being sagacious enough to know that a lump of 

 ice seldom advances against the stream. They are often shot, 

 with us, by moonlight, in the mode related in the foregoing ac- 

 count; the first pair the Editor ever killed was in this manner; 

 he was then a boy, and was not a little gratified with his un- 

 common acquisition. 



As the Vallisneria, will grow in all our fresh water rivers, 

 in coves, or places not affected by the current, it would be worth 

 the experiment to transplant this vegetable in those waters 

 where it at present is unknown. There is little doubt the Can- 

 vas-backs would, by this means, be attracted; and thus would 

 afford the lovers of good eating an opportunity of tasting a de- 

 licacy, which, in the opinion of many, is unrivalled by the 

 whole feathered race. 



In the spring, when the Duck-grass becomes scarce, the Can- 

 vas-backs are compelled to subsist upon other food, particularly 



