THE AMERICAN WIDGEON. 83 
of the Delaware, in company with Blue-winged Teal; 
and in winter it congregates in vast flocks, together with 
Scaups, better known as Bluebills, or Broadbills, Red- 
heads, and Canvasbacks, to which last it is a source of 
constant annoyance, since being a far less expert diver 
than the Canvasback, it watches that: bird until it rises 
with the highly-prized root, and flies off with the stolen 
booty in triumph. 
The Widgeon, like the Canvasback, can at times be 
toled, as it is termed, or lured within gunshot of sports- 
men, concealed behind artificial screens of reeds, built 
along the shore, or behind natural coverings, such as 
brakes of cripple or reed-beds, by the gambols of dogs 
taught to play and sport backward and forward along 
the shore, for the purpose of attracting the curious and 
fascinated wild fowl within easy shooting distance. And 
strange to say, so powerful is the attraction that the 
same flock of ducks has been known to be decoyed into 
gunshot thrice within the space of a single hour, above 
forty birds being killed at the three discharges. Scaups, 
or Blackheads, as they are called on the Chesapeake, 
tole, it is said, more readily than any other species, and 
next to these the Canvasbacks and Redheads; the Bald- 
pates being the most cautious and wary of them all, and 
rarely suffering themselves to be decoyed, except when 
in company with the Canvasbacks, along with which 
they swim shoreward carelessly, though without appear- 
ing to notice the dog. . 
