UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 353 



Green-winged Teal. This, like the preceding, is a fresh water 

 Duck, common in our markets in autumn and winter. It frequents 

 ponds, marshes, and the reedy shores of creeks and rivers. Is very 

 abundant among the rice plantations of the southern states; flies in 

 small parties, and feeds at night. It associates often with the Mal- 

 lard, feeding on the seeds of various kinds of grapes and water plants, 

 and also on the tender leaves of vegetables. Like the foregoing, its 

 flesh is excellent. 



Canvass-back Duck. This celebrated American species, as far as 

 can be judged from the best figures and descriptions of foreign birds, 

 is altogether unknown in Europe. It approaches nearest to the Po- 

 chard of Britain ; but differs from that bird in being superior in size 

 and weight, in the greater magnitude of its bill, and the general 

 whiteness of its plumage. The Canvass-back arrives in the United 

 States from the north about the middle of October; numbers descend 

 to the Hudson and Delaware, but the great body of these birds resort 

 to the numerous rivers belonging to, and in the neighbourhood of, 

 the Chesapeake Bay, particularly the Susquehannah, the Patapsco, 

 Potowmac and James' rivers, which appear to be their general win- 

 ter rendezvous. At the Susquehannah they are called Canvass-backs, 

 on the Potowmac White -backs, and on James' river Sheldrakes. They 

 are seldom found at a great distance up any of these rivers, or even 

 in the salt water bay ; but in that particular part of tide water where 

 a certain grass-like plant grows, on the roots of which they feed. 

 This plant, which is said to be a species of Falisineria, grows on fresh 

 water shoals of from seven to nine feet water, but never where these 

 are occasionally dry, in long narrow grass-like blades of four or five 

 feet in length; the root is white, and has some resemblance to small 

 celery. This grass is in many places so thick that a boat can with 

 difficulty be rowed through it, it so impedes the oars. Wherever 

 this plant grows in abundance, the Canvass-backs may be expected 

 in corresponding numbers. It occurs in some parts of the Hudson ; 

 in the Delaware near Gloucester, and in the vicinity of Petty's island, 

 both places within sight of Philadelphia ; and in most of the rivers 

 that fall into the Chesapeake, to each of which particular places these 

 Ducks resort; while in waters unprovided with this nutritive plant 

 they are altogether unknown, or are only occasionally seen when on 

 their migrations. 



On the first arrival of these birds they are generally lean, but to- 

 wards the beginning of November they are in pretty good order, and 

 about the last of the month they are in perfection. They are excel- 

 lent divers, and swim with great speed and agility. They sometimes 

 assemble in such multitudes as to cover several acres of the river, and 

 when they rise suddenly, produce a noise resembling distant thunder. 

 They float about the shoals, diving and tearing up the grass by the 

 roots, which is the only part they eat. They are extremely shy, and 

 can rarely be approached unless by stratagem. When slightly wound- 

 ed in the wing, they dive to such prodigious distances, and with such 

 rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly, and with such cunning and 

 active vigour, as almost always to render the pursuit hopeless. The 

 Canvass-back, in the rich juicy tenderness of its flesh, and its delicacy 

 of flavour, stands unrivalled by the whole feathered creation. It be- 

 comes so exceedingly fat, that when shot from a tolerable height it 

 will often burst with the fall. Those killed in the waters of the Che- 

 sapeake are generally esteemed superior to ail others; but the com- 



