CH. XXXVI. AMERICAN GAME. 263 



these rapid vessels. The latter bird, however, does 

 not seem likely to become a profitable article of 

 commerce, as the price at which it is sold in 

 America is greater than can be obtained for it in 

 this country. Although the canvas-backed duck 

 is a kind of pochard, yet, unlike our ducks of that 

 species, it does not feed by diving, but almost 

 wholly on the wild celery and other succulent 

 plants; and this it is which gives its flesh the 

 exquisite flavour so much praised by all who have 

 eaten it. Excellent as our own mallards are when 

 well fed in the corn-fields, the canvas-backed duck 

 is undoubtedly far superior. 



Besides the common eatable ducks, such as the 

 mallard, the widgeon, and the teal, golden eyes, 

 scaup ducks, scoters, and indeed every possible 

 variety, are to be found in the large poulterers' 

 shops : swans, geese of all kinds (the bernacle 

 goose from Ireland principally, and the brent 

 goose from almost all our coasts), are to be had in 

 profusion : but these birds, and indeed all wild- 

 fowl, are so variable in their flavour, according to 

 the feeding-ground they come from, that the care- 

 fid buyer should always endeavour to learn where 

 they have been killed. 



Strange as it may appear, mergansers, goosan- 

 ders, and all the fish-eating and rank-tasted birds, 



