264 



ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



known ; so that we may fairly look upon it as the ortolan 

 t)f the duck family, and the turtle of the swimming birds. 

 " The canvas-back/' says Wilson, ^' in the rich, juicy 

 tenderness of its flesh, and its delicacy of flavour, stands 

 unrivalled by the whole of its tribe in this, or perhaps 

 any, quarter of the world. Those killed in the rivers of 

 the Chesapeake are generally considered superior to all 

 others ; doubtless, from the great abundance of their 

 favourite food, which these rivers produce. They not 

 only grace, but dignify, the table; and their very name 

 conveys, to the imagination of the eager epicure, the 

 most exhilarating ideas. Hence, on such occasions, it 

 has not been uncommon to pay from one to three dollars 

 a pair for these ducks; and indeed, at such times, if they 

 can, they must be had, whatever may be the price." 



The canvas-back ducks arrive in the United States, 

 from the North, about the middle of October, and resort 

 to the numerous rivers of the Chesapeake Bay, where 

 they winter ; and beyond which, \yilson was not able 

 to trace them. They are seldom found high up any of 

 these rivers ; but chiefly frequent that particular part 

 of the tide water, where their favourite food (a certain 

 grass-like plant) grows : the root of this is white, and 

 has some resemblance to small celery; and it is upon 

 this only that the ducks feed. Wherever this plant 

 grows in abundance, the canvas-backs may be expected 

 either to pay occasional visits, or to make it their per- 

 manent residence during the winter ; they are not, in 

 fact, found in any situation where this plant does not 

 grow. 



"WTien the canvas-backs first arrive from the north- 

 ward, they are very lean; but such are the nutritive 

 qualities of their favourite food, that, by the end of 

 November, they become in fine condition. Yet the 

 Valisneria grass is not their only food ; for they readily 

 feed on grain, as the following anecdote shows : — Some 

 few years since, a vessel loaded with wheat was wrecked 

 near the entrance of Egg Harbour, and went to pieces. 

 The wheat floated out in vast quantities; and the whole 



