348 
CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 
obeyed by them; and when unable to perceive the object of 
their search, they will raise themselves in the water for this 
purpose, and will not abandon the pursuit while a chance re- 
mains of succeeding. A generous, well-trained dog, has been 
known to follow a Duck for more than half a mile; and, after 
having been long beyond the reach of seeing or hearing his 
master, to return, puffing and snorting under his load, which 
seemed sufficient to drag him beneath the waves. The Editor 
having been an eye-witness of similar feats of these noble ani- 
mals, can therefore speak with confidence as to the fact. 
On the Delaware but few of tliis species, comparatively, are 
obtained, for the want of proper situations whence they may 
be shot on the wing. To attempt to approach them, in open 
day, with a boat, is unproductive labour, except there be float- 
ing ice in the river, at which time, if the shooter clothe him- 
self in white, and paint his skiff of the same colour, he may so 
deceive the Ducks as to get within a few feet of them. At such 
times it is reasonable to suppose that these valuable birds get no 
quarter. But there is one caution to be observed, which expe- 
rienced sportsmen never omit: it is to go always with the cur- 
rent; a Duck being sagacious enough to know that a lump of 
ice seldom advances against the stream. They are often shot, 
with us, by moonlight, in the mode related in the foregoing ac- 
count; the first pair the Editor ever killed was in this manner; 
he was then a boy, and was not a little gi’atified with his un- 
common acquisition. 
As the Vallisneria, will grow in all our fresh water rivers, 
in coves, or places not affected by the current, it would be worth 
the experiment to transplant this vegetable in those waters 
where it at present is unknown. There is little doubt the Can- 
vas-backs would, by this means, be attracted; and thus would 
aflbrd the lovers of good eating an opportunity of tasting a de- 
licacy, which, in the opinion of many, is unrivalled by the 
whole feathered race. 
In the spring, when the Duck-grass becomes scarce, the Can- 
vas-backs are compelled to subsist upon other food, particularly 
