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THE CANVASS-BACK DUCK* 
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 stratagem. 
When wounded in the wing, they dive to such prodigious 
distances, and with such rapidity, continuing it so perse- 
veringly, 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 suc- 
cessful 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, gradually approach the shore, until they are some- 
times 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 pre- 
viously ascertained, keeping within the projecting shadow 
of some wood, bank, or headland, and paddles along so 
silently and imperceptibly as often to approach within fifteen 
