342 
CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 
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 stra- 
tagem. When wounded 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. From the great demand for these 
Ducks, and the high price they uniformly bring in market, 
various modes are practised to get within gunshot 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, gradu- 
ally approach the shore, until they are sometimes 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 impercep- 
tibly 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 
pursued, none intimidate them so much as shooting them by 
night; and they soon abandon the place where they have been 
thus repeatedly shot at. During the day they are dispersed 
about; but towards evening collect in large flocks, and come 
into the mouths of creeks, where they often ride as at anchor, 
with their head under their wing, asleep, there being always 
