CHAPTER XIV.

THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK.

THE Canvas-Back, while the best known of the numerous varieties of duck in certain localities, in others are comparatively strangers. In the East, in and around Chesapeake Bay, they have been known from the earliest recollection of the inhabitants. Their habits, their feeding grounds, their places of resort, the various devices and means to effect their capture, whether by toling, the captor benefiting by the inquisitiveness of the bird, the bringing them down in point shooting, the shooting them over decoys, from sink boxes, killing them from sailing boats, or the destructive way of slaughtering them during the night by poachers with enormous swivel guns, lashed to strong boats, burning heavy charges of powder and hurling with murderous effect the leaden hail into the sleeping ranks of the unsuspecting birds, killing scores of them at one discharge while the wounded escape in the darkness to die a lingering death, these methods are familiar to every reader of sporting literature.

In the West they are not so well known and are recognized as a rara avis when found along the Mississippi. On the inland lakes and river of the West they are frequently found, and goodly "bags" are made. Excellent shooting is had at times in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and other western States. At and around

Ruthven in Iowa, when one is there at the proper time, it is no uncommon occurrence for one gun to get from 20 to 40 in a morning or evening's shooting. Once in a while it seems, as if by accident, they are seen flying up the Mississippi, or again, floating idly along with the current.

When the Western duck hunter, through a generous fate, is fortunate enough to enjoy one good day's shooting of canvas-backs, he is apt to remember it for years, if not during his whole life, for in the West, they are so scarce that one successful hunt becomes so emblazoned on our memory, that years cannot efface it, nor will time tarnish the pleasant recollections, for as years are added to our declining life, they seem to brighten and make more splendid those days spent in shooting canvas-backs. We cherish these memories, and love to have our minds wander back, reverting with satisfaction and delight, to the moments we sat hidden in our boats, with numerous decoys scattered around us, shooting the noblest wild fowl that ever spread wings, as they come in their wedge-shaped column, fearlessly over our decoys; or, carried by their wonderful velocity, light just on the edge of the decoys with feet extended shoving small billows of seething foam, as they plow through the water.

Their extreme cautiousness is shown when alighting near decoys. They will come down wind like a rocket, fly straight as an arrow past the decoys, as if not seeing them, and when perhaps 100 or 200 yards past them, will suddenly whirl, and with a wide sweep, circle and without hesitancy slide into the water just out of gun shot. We see them look at the decoys as is if in wonder and surprise; then they grow inquisitive,

swim to and fro, gradually approaching the decoys, then they hesitate as if debating whether or not they had better approach any nearer. The drakes are exceedingly shy, but the ducks having their curiosity aroused, it must be satisfied, and crowding ahead of the timid males, assume the leadership, and the drakes (poor fellows) are led into danger and death by feminine curiosity. There is a moral in this, but fearing the wrath of my lady friends, I forbear to mention it.

They are a handsome bird, either flying or sitting on the water. As they fly along so swiftly, their long necks stretched out, the sun shining on their dark chestnut heads, the strong light brings into distinct prominence the changing colors of their necks and bodies, and they show up conspicuously, their feathers so prettily blending together, forming colors of deep-brownish chestnut and lightish gray, often relieved by snowy whiteness.

On the water they are equally pleasing, to the eye as we see them sitting in some broad open lake, far from shore. Watching them unperceived we see them floating on its surface, idly, or with extended necks when the least alarmed,-their necks looking sadly out of proportion to their plump, short bodies. Their bills are made strong by nature, that they may forcibly tear asunder bulbs and roots from the deep bottom of the lake. Near them at this time we often notice the sly widgeon, constantly showing its thievish propensities. As the canvas-back appears on the surface, the widgeon rushes quickly upon it and snatches from it the sweet roots it dived so deeply to obtain.

The canvas-backs are frequently confounded with red-heads, and I have witnessed discussions between