CANVAS-BACK. 277 



any thing, even more easily than the canvas-backs. From further 

 observation and more minute inquiry on the subject of toling, we 

 are now inclined to think that very nearly all varieties of the 

 wild fowl can be decoyed in the way above described; but at the 

 same time we are more than ever convinced that the canvas-back 

 is more susceptible to this strange influence than any other duck 

 on our waters. The reason why we were at first led to suppose 

 that the canvas-back alone could be influenced by these playful 

 motions of a dog was owing to the circumstance of our never 

 having at that time toled wild fowl on other waters than the Chesa- 

 peake, where the canvas-back is always to be seen feeding during 

 the shooting season in company with all the other varieties that 

 flock to this favorite resort ; and we had not perhaps considered 

 how seldom it was that a bed of ducks could be seen on these 

 waters that did not chiefly consist of canvas-backs, as the most of 

 the other varieties keep company with these ducks for the purpose 

 of feeding on the refuse of the celery which they, by their superior 

 strength and dexterity, are enabled to pull up from the bottom of 

 the rivers. We consequently may have been perfectly correct in 

 our assertion ''^ of never having succeeded in toling any other spe- 

 cies of duck unaccompanied by the canvas-back ;'' but at the same 

 time our inferences may have been entirely wrong, when we con- 

 sider how seldom a bed of ducks is seen on these waters that is not 

 principally composed of canvas-backs. And, moreover, when we 

 consider the acuteness of vision and the never-ceasing watchful- 

 ness of the canvas-back, we need not be at all surprised that they 

 should be most generally the first to notice the dog or the first to 

 take the lead in the general movement towards the shore, — all the 

 other ducks apparently following, although they may be equally 

 under the magic influence. 



This plan of killing ducks, though practised by all the gentry 

 as well as pot-hunters who frequent the bay-shore, is not altogether 

 recognised as a sportsmanlike way of bagging game, and is for- 

 bidden on some of the grounds in possession of the clubs that meet 

 during the shooting season at different points in the bay. Against 



