258 GAME DEEP-WATER FOWL. 



paddle-boat covered with brush is so similar to 

 sink-box shooting, that it would simply be a waste 

 of space to describe it; and the covering of the 

 boat is so simple a matter that I will trust to 

 the ingenuity of my readers without boring them 

 with tedious explanations. I will just remark the 

 position of shooting from the paddle-boat had 

 better be from the knees than from a sitting 

 position ; bending forward when ducks may be 

 approaching, instead of lying at length. 



Canvas-back generally feed quite near the edges 

 of the willows, as their food, which consists 

 mainly of the bulbous roots of a certain water- 

 grass, does not grow in the deeper waters, but 

 rather in those portions of the lakes that are 

 left bare during the summer and early fall 

 months, when the water is generally low. During 

 the fall, unless the water is unusually high, they 

 are rarely seen ; but in spring, when the melt- 

 ing of the winter's show and ice, and the 

 heavy rains, have raised the river and inun- 

 dated these grassy plats, they may be often seen 

 in flocks of thousands. When much disturbed, 

 they feed mostly by night or early morning and 

 evening, and sit during the middle of the day 

 near the middle of the open waters opposite to 



