AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



41 



re-loading my rifle; this quieted my fears, and I gained my 

 usual confidence. By this time the panther, writhing un- 

 der the eflect of the wound, yelled more terrible, if possible, 

 than before, and seemed actuated solely by the spirit of the 

 infernal regions, commenced springing on the rocks, then 

 on some tree, but fortunately, always in that situation as to 

 keep the tree behind which I stood, between us ; the last 

 leap, however, that she made, was in the fork of a tree about 

 fifteen yards from me, which completely uncovered me to 

 the full view of this enraged monster. 



Whether the animal at the discovery, became daunted, or 

 enjoying the self satisfaction of having her enemy within 

 her reach, and thereby paused in order to glut her eyes 

 more fully, preparatory to the destruction of her prey, or 

 before she made her final leap, is impossible for me to 

 divine; but, providentially forme, it was thus, for this aw- 

 ful moment of silence and hesitancy, enabled me to shoot 

 the creature through the heart, and bring her lifeless at my 

 feet. Unaccustomed to see this animal do thus, I was en- 

 deavouring to account for actions so extraordinary, in a 

 variety of causes; but, on wending my way to my habita- 

 tion, the mystery was solved. I overtook a hunter, who 

 had in his arms two young panthers, and it appeared that 

 this adventurous man had gone into the den of the mother, 

 and robbed her of her kittens; this being the case, it is easy 

 to account for the ferocity of the animal I had just killed, 

 and from whose vengeance, I thanked my stars I had so luck- 

 ily escaped. But my feelings towards the stranger were not 

 of the most pacific kind, arising A-om the reflection of my dan- 

 ger having been caused by his fool-hardiness, and I expressed 

 myself to him on the subject in strong terms to that effect. 



The man, after hearing the story, turned pale and shud- 

 dered, not at any danger he was then in, but from that 

 which he had so fortunately escaped, for had the infuriated 

 mother returned at the period he was in the den, the cubs 

 he held in his arms, would, by the time I was conversing 

 with him, have been sucking his blood, for, from his own 

 tale, he could not have left the spot more than half an hour 

 previous to my arrival. M. 



CHESAPEAKE DUCK SHOOTING. 



The Chesapeake Bay and its tributary streams, has, 

 from its discovery, been known as the greatest resort of 

 water fowl in the United States. This has depended on 

 the profusion of their food, which is accessible on the im- 

 mense flats, or shoals that are found near the mouth of the 

 Susquehanna, the whole length of North-East and Elk 

 rivers, and on the shores of the bay and connecting streams, 

 as far south as York and James rivers. 



The quantity of fowl of late years, has been decided- 

 ly less than in times gone by; and the writer has met 

 with persons who have assured him, the number has 

 decreased one half in the last fifteen years. This change 

 has arisen, most probably, from the vast increase in the 

 destruction from the greater number of persons who now 

 make a business or pleasure of this sport; as well as the 

 constant disturbance they meet with on many of their feed- 

 ing grounds, which induces them to distribute themselves 

 more widely, and forsake their usual haunts. 



As early as the first and second week in October, the 

 smaller Ducks, as the Buffel head, (anas albeola,) South 

 southerly, (a. glacialis,) and the Ruddy, or Heavy tailed 

 duck, (a. 7-ubidus,) &c. begin to show themselves in the 

 upper part of the bay, and by the last of the month, the 

 Black head, (a. marila,) Widgeon, or Bald pate, (a. 

 Jimericana,) Red head, (a. ferina,) and the Goose, (a. 

 Canadensis,) appear, and rapidly distribute themselves 

 down the bay. The Canvass back, (a. valisineria,) and 

 the Swan (a. cygnus,) rarely, unless the weather to 

 the north has been severe, appear in quantities till the 

 middle of November. All these fowl, when first arrived, 

 are thin and tasteless, from their privation during their mi- 

 gration, and perhaps preparatory arrangements, and require 

 some days at least, of undisturbed repose, to give them that 

 peculiar flavour, for which some of them are so celebrated. 

 During the low tides succeeding their arrival, the birds sit 

 on the flats far from the shores, and rarely rise to the wing 

 unless disturbed; but when the spring tides render the 

 water too deep for feeding, they commence their career, 

 and pass down the bay in the morning, and return in the 

 evening. Most of these fowl feed on the same grass, 

 which grows abundantly on the shallows in the bay and 

 adjacent waters, and has been called Duck-grass, (Valis- 

 NERiA Americana.) 



It grows from six to eighteen inches in length, and is 

 readily pulled up by the root. Persons who have closely 

 observed these Ducks while feeding, say, that the Canvass 

 back, and Black head, dive and pull the grass from the 

 ground, and feed on the roots, and the Red head, and Bald 

 pate then consume the leaves. Indeed, although the Bald 

 pate is a much smaller bird than the Canvass back, they 

 have been seen to rob the latter, immediately on their re- 

 turn from under the water, of all their spoil. 



All these larger Ducks are found together when feeding, 

 but separate when on the wing. That they feed on the 

 same grass, is evident, from the similarity of flavour, and 

 those most accustomed to the article, have a difficulty in 

 deciding on the kind of Duck from the taste. Indeed, the 

 Bald pate is generally preferred by residents. Whilst 

 speaking of flavour, I will remark, that the Swan under 



