HAUNTS OF THE WOOD DUCK. 275 



the day the sole object of pursuit, yet few excursions 

 will be made in the vicinity of their retreats that 

 several shots will not be obtained at them. Although 

 not essentially a wild bird, still they have the instinct, 

 unless stalked upon unperceived, to flush just beyond 

 gun range, and appear invariably to endeavour to 

 keep either some giant tree or immense limb between 

 the intruder and themselves. As their favourite 

 perching places are upon limbs of trees, it is useless 

 to search for them on the stream after being alarmed, 

 for they invariably make into the timber, and alight 

 near the summit of such trees as possess the densest 

 foliage. Their nest is always built in a tree, generally 

 such a one as is overgrown with iv} r and leans over a 

 pond or watercourse, the young being carried in the 

 bill of the parent bird from its nursery to the water 

 when it has arrived at sufficient maturity to endure 

 such treatment. Their flight is very swift and power- 

 ful, so, although the bird is small, little larger than a 

 teal, it requires hard hitting to bring 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 manj r smaller 

 species of wild fowl denominated by the inhabitants of 

 the neighbourhood respectively dipper ducks, souther- 

 lies, and whistlers all of which are remarkable for 



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