332 FEATHERED GAME 
at various points among the Rocky mountains. 
The greater number nest far away in the north, 
perhaps even to the shores of the Arctic seas. 
It is a very fine bird from the sportsman’s 
standpoint, usually decoying well, always fly- 
ing fast and carrying lead off bravely. 
About the month of October the Canvasbacks 
begin to arrive in the waters of the Atlantic 
seaboard and scatter all along the coast line 
from Long Island Sound to Texas. Some few 
even go to Central America. These birds keep 
together in large flocks both in the migrations 
and on the feeding grounds. They are said to 
be very wary and difficult of approach, placing 
sentinels during their resting and their feeding 
hours. They are expert swimmers and in their 
feeding they dive constantly, getting nearly all 
their food from the bottom. They can swim 
long distances beneath the surface, and, like 
the ‘‘surf-’’ and ‘‘sea-ducks,’’ dive instantly 
when wounded, in an attempt to escape under 
water. 
These are probably the most highly valued 
by the sportsman of any of the duck family. 
When after a season of feeding on the ‘‘wild 
celery’’ their flesh is in prime condition they 
