and the Maritime Provinces. 143 



" We found a pair of black or dusky ducks, with a brood of young, 

 this morning, Judge," said the Doctor, after we were comfortably settled; 

 " they were an interesting family, but did not differ much in appearance 

 from domestic ducks. The ducklings were covered with long yellow and 

 black down, and their wing feathers had begun to sprout ; it seems strange 

 to me that this species has not been domesticated. I believe it is said to 

 be untamable." 



" On the contrary," replied the Judge, " the black duck is now reared 

 by a number of breeders, and it has become quite a domestic bird. It is 

 raised chiefly for decoys and it is the best of all used as such." 



" Not quite, Judge," said I ; "it does not call nearly as well as the 

 common mallard, and gunners greatly prefer a cross between the black and 

 domestic duck to the pure-blooded birds. There is no reason why any of 

 the fresh-water ducks may not be domesticated. The summer duck has 

 been reared repeatedly, and, if one were willing to take the trouble, I have 

 no doubt that all the species which eat seeds can be domesticated." 



" It would be a grand thing if the canvas-back could be tamed," said 

 the Doctor. 



" It could be, I have no doubt," I answered, " but it would lose its 

 delicious flavor if it were deprived of its favorite food, the root of one of 

 the aquatic grasses." 



" The canvas-back is a rare bird in New England," suggested the 

 Judge. 



" Yes, it seems to pass us in the migrations and is, when found with 

 us, only a wanderer from the main flight. When its favorite food is not 

 obtained it subsists on various marine plants and small shell-fish and, of 

 course, then loses its delicacy of flavor. The root that it feeds on is the 

 Zostera valisneria ; this is different from that which the brant delights in, 

 which is the ' tape or eel grass,' Zostera marina. Yes, the canvas-back 

 could be domesticated, without doubt, for it is very fond of wheat. Wilson 

 mentions an instance of a vessel loaded with wheat being wrecked at Egg 

 Harbor, New Jersey ; he says that large flocks were attracted to the spot, 

 and as many as two hundred and fifty were killed in a day. The canvas- 

 back is vigilant and difficult of approach, except in severe weather, when 

 it is readily killed at ' air openings ' in the ice. This duck is becoming 

 more and more scarce and soon will be a rarity, indeed. Its table qualities 

 are well known, but, in my opinion, they do not greatly excel those of the 

 summer duck and teals." 



" A good many red-heads are palmed off for canvas-backs on the con- 

 fiding public," said the Doctor. 



" Yes, but they may readily be distinguished if unplucked," I replied. 

 " The red-head is pretty common on our shores, where it usually prefers 



