134 
FRANK FORESTER^ FIELD SPORTS. 
geonf or Bald-pate, A. Americana ; Red-head,§ A.ferina; and 
the Goose,|| A. Canadensis , appear and rapidly distribute them¬ 
selves down the bay. The Canvass-back, A. Valisneria, and 
the Swan, Cygnus Americanus, rarely, unless the weather at the 
North has been severe, appear in quantities until the middle of 
November. All these fowl, when first arrived, are thin and 
tasteless, from their privation during their migration, and per¬ 
haps preparatory arrangements, and require some days at least 
of undisturbed 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 evening. Most of these fowl feed on the 
same grass, which grows abundantly on the shallows of 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 close¬ 
ly observed these Duck while feeding, say 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 his return from under the water, of all its spoil. 
“ All these larger Duck are found together when feeding, but 
separate when on the wing. That they feed on the same grass, 
is evident from the similarity of flavor; and those most accus¬ 
tomed to the article have a difficulty in deciding on the kind of 
Duck from the taste. Indeed, the Bald-pate is generally prefer¬ 
red 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, 
t The American Widgeon. § Red-beaded Duck; Pochard. 
11 Canada Goose ; Wild Goose. 
