244 Mr. Peabody on the 
in the fur countries, and, on its return, is found in 
most parts of the Union. About Chesapeake Bay, it 
isa companion rather than friend of the canvass- 
back, which dives for the plants on which it feeds. 
The widgeon, which likes the plant, but not the 
diving, watches the moment of the canvass-back's 
rising, and before its eyes are fairly opened, it 
snatches the plant from its mouth and makes off 
with it. 'The widgeon is found in the interior, as 
well as on the coast; many spend the winter in the 
` southern states. 
The Dusxy Dvcx, Anas obscura, sometimes called 
the black duck, is, as Dr. Brewer informs me, the 
most common of all the species in the neighborhood 
of Boston. They are met with on the coast, from 
Florida to Labrador, but are not found in the high 
northern regions. They frequent salt marshes as 
well as jnland waters, and their food consists of small 
shellfish and seeds. In the daytime, they are retired 
and shy; but on the report of a gun, they rise in 
great numbers and disperse in all directions. They 
fly high in calm weather, and low when the wind 
blows hard, when the gunners conceal themselves in 
the grass and shoot them down. Their flesh is said 
to be equal to that of the other ducks, when they 
have been well fed, but it generally has something 
of the flavor of its food. This bird breeds in this 
State in fresh water marshes and on sea islands; the 
eggs are eight or ten in number, resembling those 
of the domestic duck. Great numbers, however, 
proceed beyond our borders. 
