CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 235i 
with large shot. The ducks, which were flying up and down 
the river in great extremity, soon crowded to this place, so 
that the whole open space was not only covered with them, but 
vast numbers stood on the ice around it. They had three 
rounds, firing both at once, and picked up eighty-eight canvas- 
backs, and might have collected more, had they been able to 
get to the extremity of the ice after the wounded ones. In 
the severe winter of 1779-80, the grass on the roots of which 
these birds feed was almost wholly destroyed in James river. 
In the month of January, the wind continued to blow from 
W.N.W. for twenty-one days, which caused such low tides in 
the river, that the grass froze to the ice everywhere, and a thaw 
coming on suddenly, the whole was raised by the roots and 
carried off by the fresh. The next winter a few of these ducks 
were seen, but they soon went away again; and, for many 
years after, they continued to be scarce, and even to the pre- 
sent day, in the opinion of my informant, have never been so 
plenty as before. 
The canvas-back, in the rich juicy tenderness of its flesh, 
and its delicacy of flavour, stands unrivalled by the whole of 
its tribe in this or perhaps any other quarter of the world. 
Those killed in the waters of the Chesapeake are generally 
esteemed superior to all others, doubtless from the great 
abundance of their favourite food which these rivers produce. 
At our public dinners, hotels, and particular entertainments, 
the canvas-backs are universal favourites. They not only 
grace but dignify the table, and their very name conveys to 
the imagination of the eager epicure the most comfortable and 
exhilarating ideas. Hence, on such occasions, it has not been 
uncommon to pay from one to three dollars a pair for these 
ducks ; and, indeed, at such times, if they can, they must be 
had, whatever may be the price. 
The canvas-back will feed readily on grain, especially 
wheat, and may be decoyed to particular places by baiting 
them with that grain for several successive days. Some few 
years since a vessel loaded with wheat was wrecked near 
