DIPPERS AND DECOY-DUCKS. 279 
It is very seldom in winter; during any weather, that 
sport is not to a certain extent marred by these little beau- 
ties, more especially by the dippers, for they are such little 
rogues, thieves, and impudent: withal, that whenever they 
see decoy-ducks set out they are bound to visit them. The 
reason they do so is this: they imagine that the imitation 
birds are a veritable flock of canvas-backs feeding, and they 
themselves being indifferent divers, wait upon the surface 
for the larger species to bring up the much-prized water- 
celery, when, before the lately submerged bird has got the 
water out of his eyes or recovered his breath, the little 
BALD PATES, 
pilferer has purloined the fruits of his labor. This is no 
idle fancy; Audubon vouches for its truth, and I have 
many times heard it confirmed by persons who spend their 
lives upon the Chesapeake supplying Baltimore with wild 
fowl. A cock-dipper, for such is the name the male bird 
receives, in the parlance of that locality, is truly a beautiful 
bird, almost rivaling the wood-duck in the brilliancy of his 
plumage. When he raises his handsome crest he is par- 
ticularly attractive. 
For the table dippers are superior to teal, and that is pay- 
ing them no mean compliment; for who that is an epicure 
can be ignorant of the delicacy of flavor of the latter? 
