DUSKY DUCK. 19 
rapid movements of their pointed wings. When alarmed by a shot or 
otherwise, they rise off their feet by a single powerful spring, fly di- 
rectly upwards for eight or ten yards, and then proceed in a straight 
line. Now, if you are an expert hand, is the moment to touch your 
trigger, and if you delay, be sure your shot will fall short. 
As it is attached to particular feeding grounds, and returns to them 
until greatly molested, you may, by secreting yourself within shooting 
distance, anticipate a good result; for even although shot at, it will 
reappear several times in succession in the course of a few hours, un- 
less it has been wounded. The gunners in the vicinity of Boston, in 
Massachusetts, who kill great numbers of these birds, on account of 
the high price obtained for them in the fine market of that beautiful 
and hospitable city, procure them in the following manner :-—They 
keep live decoy-ducks of the Mallard kind, which they take with them 
in their floats or boats. On arriving at a place which they know to be 
suitable, they push or haul their boat into some small nook, and con- 
ceal it among the grass or rushes. Then they place their decoys, one 
in front of their ambush, the rest on either side, each having a line at- 
tached to one of its feet, with a stone at the other end, by which it is kept 
as if riding at anchor. One of the birds is retained in the boat, where 
the gunner lies concealed, and in cold weather amply covered with 
thick and heavy clothing. No sooner is all m order, than the decoy- 
ducks, should some wild birds appear, sound their loud call-notes, 
anxious as they feel to be delivered from their sad bondage. Should 
this fail to produce the desired effect of drawing the wild ducks near, 
the poor bird in the boat is pinched on the rump, when it immediately 
calls aloud; those at anchor respond, and the joint clamour attracts 
the travellers, who now check their onward speed, wheel several times 
over the spot, and at last alight. The gunner seldom waits long for a 
shot, and often kills fifteen or twenty of the Black Ducks at a single 
discharge of his huge piece, which is not unfrequently charged with as 
much as a quarter of a pound of powder and three quarters of a pound 
of shot ! 
The Black Ducks generally appear in the sound of Long Island 
in September or October, but in very cold weather proceed southward ; 
while those which breed in Texas, as I have been informed, remain 
there all the year. At their first arrival they betake themselves to 
the fresh-water ponds, and soon become fat, when they afford excel- 
B2 
