CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 
291 
be literally covered with the eggs of the eider ducks. Dr. 
Sutherland^ in his ^ Journal^ (vol. i. p. 167)^ says that it 
was impossible to walk among the nests without trampling 
upon the eggs^ and each nest contained from four to seven 
or eight eggs. A boat was loaded in the course of two 
hours^ andj on its return to the ship, the eggs were counted. 
Although he calculates that only a twentieth or thirtieth 
part was brought away, the number of eggs brought off was 
about five thousand : they were not however all sound. 
To the Duck tribe, and one too of the rarest quality and 
reputation, belongs the celebrated Canvas-backDuck of North 
America {Nyroca Valisneria) . This bird, of so much repute 
among gourmands, breeds, luckily for itself, in the fur 
countries, far from man ; and when it comes south, meets 
with but a warm^^ and rough reception. It derives its 
name from the aquatic plant (the curious Valisneria) on 
which by choice it feeds. Mr. Peabody^ informs us, in his 
^ Birds of Massachusetts,^ that it is on the white roots of 
this narrow long-leaved plant that it feeds. The birds 
feed about the shoals where it grows, diving and tearing 
it up, not discouraged in consequence of the losses which 
they suffer from the dishonest arts of the widgeon.^^ This 
author informs us that the ducks, when they come south, 
* Boston Journal of Natural History, vol. iii. p. 249. 
