THE AMEEICAN WIDGEON. 83 



of the Delaware, in company with Blue-winged Teal; 

 and in winter it congregates in vast flocks, together with 

 Scaups, better known as Bluebills, or Broadbills, .Red- 

 heads, and Canvasbacks, to which last it is a source of 

 constant annoyance, since being a far less expert diver 

 than the Canvasback, it watches that bird until it rises 

 with the highly-prized root, and flies off with the stolen 

 booty in triumph. 



The "Widgeon, like the Canvasback, can at times be 

 toled, as it is termed, or lured within gunshot of sports- 

 men, concealed behind artificial screens of reeds, built 

 along the shore, or behind natural coverings, such as 

 brakes of cripple or reed-beds, by the gambols of dogs 

 taught to play and sport backward and forward along 

 the shore, for the purpose of attracting the curious and 

 fascinated wild fowl within easy shooting distance. And 

 strange to say, so powerful is the attraction that the 

 same flock of ducks has been known to be decoyed into 

 gunshot thrice within the space of a single hour, above 

 forty birds being killed at the three discharges. Scaups, 

 or Blackheads, as they are called on the Chesapeake, 

 tole, it is said, more readily than any other species, and 

 next to these the Canvasbacks and Bedheads ; the Bald- 

 pates being the most cautious and wary of them all, and 

 rarely suffering themselves to be decoyed, except when 

 in company with the Canvasbacks, along with which 

 they swim shoreward carelessly, though without appear- 

 ing to notice the dog. 



