322 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



always numbers of other ducks feeding with the canvas-back, 

 particularly the red-heads and black-heads, who partake of the 

 top of the grass which the canvas-back discards after eating off the 

 root. These ducks, though they come in with the canvas-backs 

 when toled, do not seem to take any notice whatever of the dog, 

 but continue to swim along, carelessly feeding, as if intrusting 

 themselves entirely to the guidance of the other fowl. 



"As far as we have been able to judge, we are inclined to this 

 opinion also, and do not recollect ever having succeeded in toling 

 any other species of duck unaccompanied by the canvas-back, 

 although we have made the effort many times. These ducks are a 

 very singular bird, and, although very cunning under ordinary 

 circumstances, seem perfectly bewildered upon this subject. We 

 were one of a party several years since who actually succeeded 

 in decoying the same batch of ducks three successive times in the 

 course of an hour, and slaying at each fire a large number. We 

 counted out over forty at the conclusion of the sport. 



"Although the toling of ducks is so simple in its process, there 

 are few dogs who have sufficient industry and perseverance to 

 arrive at any degree of perfection in the art. The dog, if not 

 possessed of some sagacity and considerable training, is very apt 

 to tire and stop running when the ducks have got near the shore 

 but too far off to be reached by the guns, which spoils all, as the 

 birds are very apt to swim or fly off if the motion of the animal 

 is arrested for a few moments."* 



Since writing the above, we have been assured by an experienced 

 and somewhat veteran sportsman that both the black-heads and 

 the red-heads tole with the same facility, and the former duck, if 



* On some particular days, even in the midst of the toling season, without any 

 apparent reason, the toler is obliged to relinquish his sport, as no artifice on the 

 part of the dog will induce the ducks to come in, although on the preceding day 

 they may have exhibited the greatest eagerness to satisfy their curiosity on this 

 point. The immediate cause of this fickleness on the part of these fowl it is difficult 

 to explain, as it cannot be attributed to any sudden change in the weather or other 

 concomitant circumstances which most generally influence the actions of the 

 feathered race. 



