136 
CANVASS-BACK DUCK. 
ing ice in the riverj at which time, if the shooter clothe him- 
self in white, and paint his skijff 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 
experienced sportsmen never omit : it is to go always with the 
current ; 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 fore- 
going account ; the first pair the Editor ever killed was in this 
manner ; he was then a boy, and was not a little gratified with 
his uncommon acquisition. 
As the Valisineria 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 canvass-backs would, by this means, be attracted ; and thus 
would alFord the lovers of good eating an opportunity of tas- 
ting a delicacy, which, in the opinion of many, is unrivalled 
by the whole feathered race. 
“ In the spring, when the duck-grass becomes scarce, the 
canvass-backs are compelled to subsist upon other food, parti- 
cularly sheU-fish ; their flesh then loses its delicacy of flavour, 
and, although still fat, it is not esteemed by epicures ; hence 
the ducks are not much sought after ; and are permitted quietly 
to feed until their departure for the north. 
Our author states that he had had no certain accounts of 
this species to the southward of James’ river, Virginia. In 
the month of January, 1818, the Editor saw many hundreds 
of these ducks feeding in the Savannah river, not far from 
Tybee lighthouse. They were known by the name of can- 
vass-backs ; but the inhabitants of that quarter considered them 
as fishing ducks, not fit to be eaten : so said the pilot of the 
ship which bore the Editor to Savannah. But a pair of these 
birds having been served up at table, after his arrival, he was 
convinced, by their delicate flavour, that they had lost little by 
