278 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



ters, it will be found, not in large flocks, but in little fam- 

 ily parties of from four to eight, on all the streams that 

 have wooded margins south of the forty-fifth degree of lat- 

 itude. Nowhere have I found them sufficiently abundant 

 to make them for 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, un- 

 less stalked upon unperceived, to flush just beyond gun 

 range, and appear invariably to endeavor to keep either 

 some giant tree or immense limb between the intruder 

 and themselves. As their favorite 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 ivy and 

 leans over a pond or water-course, 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 powerful, so, al- 

 though the bird is small little larger than a teal it re- 

 quires 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 ta- 

 ble, and larger than English widgeon, besides quantities of 

 bald-pates, teal, and many smaller species of wild fowl, de- 

 nominated by the inhabitants of the neighborhood respect- 

 ively dipper ducks, Southerlies, and whistlers all of which 

 are remarkable for their beautiful plumage, and their ac- 

 tivity whether swimming or on the wing. 



