CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 105 



ber they are in pretty good order. They are excellent 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 thunder. They 

 float about these 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 wound- 

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

 such rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly, and with such cun- 

 ning and active vigor, as almost always to render the pursuit hope- 

 less. From the great demand for these ducks, and the high price 

 they uniformly bring in market, various modes are practised to get 

 within gun shot of them. The most successful way is said to be, 

 decoying them to the shore by means of a dog, while the gunner 

 lies closely concealed in a proper situation. The dog, if properly 

 trained, plays backwards and forwards along the margin of the 

 water, and the ducks observing his manoeuvres, enticed perhaps 

 by curiosity, gradually approach the shore, until they are some- 

 times within twenty or thirty yards of the spot where the gunner 

 lies concealed, and from which he rakes them, first on the water 

 and then as they rise. This method is called tolling them in. If 

 the ducks seem difficult to decoy, any glaring object, such as a red 

 handkerchief, is fixed round the dog's middle, or to his tail, and 

 this rarely fails to attract them. Sometimes by moonlight the 

 sportsman directs his skiff towards a flock whose position he had 

 previously ascertained, keeping within the projecting shadow of 

 some wood, bank, or headland, and paddles along so silently and 

 imperceptibly as often to approach within fifteen or twenty yards 

 of a flock of many thousands, among whom he generally makes 

 great slaughter. 



Many other stratagems are practised, and indeed every plan 

 that the ingenuity of the experienced sportsman can suggest, to 

 approach within gun shot of these birds ; but of all the modes pur- 

 VOL. VIII. D d 



