OAKY ASS-BACK DUCK. 
13 
well as the constant disturbance they meet with on many of their feeding 
grounds, which induces them to distribute themselves more widely, and 
forsake their usual haunts. 
“ As early as the first and second weeks in October, the smaller Ducks, 
as the Buffel-head, Anas Albeola ; South-Southerly, A. glacialis ; and the 
Ruddy or Heavy-tailed Duck, A. rubida, begin to shew themselves in the 
upper part of the bay ; and by the last of the month, the Black-head, A. 
Marila; Widgeon or Bald-pate, A. Americana; Red-head, A. Ferina ; and 
the Goose, A. Canadensis , appear, and rapidly distribute themselves down 
the bay. The Canvass-back, A. Valisneria, and the Swan, Cygnus Arne* 
ricanus, rarely, unless the weather to the north has been severe, appear in 
quantities till the middle of November. All these fowl, when first arrived, 
are thin and tasteless, from their privation during their migration, and 
perhaps preparatory arrangements, and require some days at least of undis- 
turbed repose to give them that peculiar flavor for which some of them are so 
celebrated. During the low tides succeeding their arrival, the birds sit on 
the flats far from the shores, and rarely rise to the wing unless disturbed; but 
when the spring-tides render the water too deep for feeding, they commence 
their career, and pass down the bay in the morning, 'and return in the even- 
ing. Most of these fowl feed on the same grass, which grows abundantly 
on the shallows in the bay and adjacent waters, and has been called duck- 
grass, Valisneria Americana. It grows from six to eighteen inches in 
length, and is readily pulled up by the root. Persons who have closely 
observed these Ducks while feeding, say that the Canvass-back and Black- 
head dive and pull the grass from the ground, and feed on the roots, and that 
the Red-head and Bald-pate then consume the leaves. Indeed, although the 
Bald-pate is a much smaller bird than the Canvass-back, it has been seen to 
rob the latter, immediately on its return from under the water, of all its 
spoil. 
“ All these larger Ducks are found together when feeding, but separate 
when on the wing. That they feed on the same grass, is evident from the 
similarity of flavour ; and those most accustomed to the article have a diffi- 
culty in deciding on the kind of Duck from the taste. Indeed, the Bald- 
pate is generally preferred by residents. 
“ By the middle of December, particularly if the weather has been a little 
severe, the fowl of every kind have become so fat, that I have seen Canvass- 
backs burst open in the breast in falling on the water; and spending less time 
in feeding, they pass up and down the bay from river to river, in their 
morning and evening flights, giving, at certain localities, great opportunities 
for destruction. They pursue, even in their short passages, very much the 
order of their migratory movements, flying in a line, or baseless triangle ; 
