CANVASS-BACK DUCK. 7 
will never come nearer than they can swim freely. The higher the 
tides, and the calmer the day, the better, for they feed closer to the 
shores and see more distinctly. Most persons on these waters have a 
race of small white or liver-coloured dogs, which they familiarly call 
the toler breed, but which appear to be the ordinary poodle. These 
dogs are extremely playful, and are taught to run up and down the 
shore, in sight of the ducks, either by the motion of the hand, or by 
throwing chips from side to side. They soon become perfectly ac- 
quainted with their business, and as they discover the ducks approach- 
ing them, make their jumps less high till they almost crawl on the 
ground, to prevent the birds discovering what the object of their curio- 
sity may be. This disposition to examine rarities has been taken ad- 
vantage of by using a red or black handkerchief by day, and a white 
one by night in toling, or even by gently plashing the water on the 
shore. The nearest ducks soon notice the strange appearance, raise 
their heads, gaze intently for a moment, and then push for the shore, 
followed by the rest. On many occasions, I have seen thousands of 
them swimming in a solid mass direct to the object ; and by removing 
the dog farther into the grass, they have been brought within fifteen 
feet of the bank. When they have approached to about thirty or forty 
yards, their curiosity is generally satisfied, and after swimming up 
and down for a few seconds, they retrograde to their former station. 
The moment to shoot is while they present their sides, and forty or fifty 
ducks have often been killed by a small gun. The Black-heads toll the 
most readily, then the Red-heads, next the Canvass-backs, and the Bald- 
pates rarely. This also is the ratio of their approach to the points in 
flying, although, if the Canvass-back has determined on his direction, 
few circumstances will change his course. The total absence of cover 
or precaution against exposure to sight, or even a large fire, will not 
turn these birds aside on such occasions. In flying-shooting, the Bald- 
pates are a great nuisance, for they are so shy that they not only avoid 
the points themselves, but by their whistling and confusion of flight at 
such times, alarm others. 
‘‘ Simple as it may appear to shoot with suecess into a solid mass of 
ducks sitting on the water at forty or fifty yards’ distance, yet when 
you recollect that youare placed nearly level with the surface, the object 
opposed to you, even though composed of hundreds of individuals, may 
be in appearance but a few feet in width. To give, therefore, the best 
