278 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
ters, it will be found, not in large flocks, but in little fam- 
ily parties of from four to eight, on all the streams that 
have wooded margins south of the forty-fifth degree of lat- 
itude. Nowhere have I found them sufficiently abundant 
to make them for the day the sole object of pursuit, yet 
few excursions will be made in the vicinity of their retreats 
that several shots will not be obtained at them. Although 
not essentially a wild bird, still they have the instinct, un- 
less stalked upon unperceived, to flush just beyond gun 
range, and appear invariably to endeavor to keep either 
some giant tree,or immense limb between the intruder 
and themselves. As their favorite perching-places are 
upon limbs of trees, it is useless to search for them on the 
stream after being alarmed, for they invariably make into 
the timber, and alight near the summit of such trees as 
possess the densest foliage. Their nest is always built in 
a tree, generally such a one as is overgrown with ivy and 
leans over a pond or water-course, the young being carried 
in the bill of the parent bird from its nursery to the water 
when it has arrived at sufficient maturity to endure such 
treatment. Their flight is very swift and powerful, so, al- 
though the bird is small—little larger than a teal—it re- 
quires hard hitting to bring down; thus No. 6 shot will be 
found most useful for their pursuit. 
SMALLER VARIETIES. 
Independent of Chesapeake Bay being visited by such 
immense swarms of canvas-back ducks, there are thousands 
of red-heads and black-heads, all excellent birds for the ta- 
ble, and larger than English widgeon, besides quantities of 
bald-pates, teal, and many smaller species of wild fowl, de- 
nominated by the inhabitants of the neighborhood respect- 
ively dipper ducks, Southerlies, and whistlers—all of which 
are remarkable for their beautiful plumage, and their ac- 
tivity whether swimming or on the wing. 
