work upon the District of Columbia, are denominated drift fowl, from the by Jonathan Elliot, Esq. circumstance of their collecting in The summer duck (Anas Sponsa vast bodies, when at rest, in the midof Wilson,) is the only species of the dle of the river, or feeding in deep numerous water fowl which frequent water, obtaining their food by diving the Potomac, which breed upon its to the bottom. The bald face and the borders; the others are migratory. sprig tail, although they avoid the The whole tribe has been sensibly marshes, teed on the margin of the diminished of late years, by the new river in shallow water, as do the method of taking them which will marsh fowl, by dipping their heads be presently described, and the in- and necks under only; and all these creased avidity with which they are described as marsh fowl, are found sought by persons to supply the mar- feeding on the shores of the rivers kets. They are still, however, nu- occasionally, except the blue winged merous, and consist of various spe- teal, which frequents the marshes excies,The swan, the wild goose, and clusively, and only such as produce a great variety of ducks, as the canvass the wild oat, his favorite food. This back, the red head shoveler, the black duck too differs from all the others head shoveler, the duc-a-malard, the in the time and period of his visits black duck, the blue wing teal, the to this quarter of the country; they green wing teal, and the widgeon. are earlier made and of shorter du"Of these, the five species first ration: he comes about the first of mentioned are what are called river September, and goes about the first fowl, frequenting only the fresh river; of November; all the other kinds of and the last five kinds are known by duck arrive with us, as the swan the name of marsh fowl, feeding and geese, from the middle of Octoprincipally in the marshes bordering her to the middle of November; and on the river. Again, of the river depart from about the first to the fowl the canvass back, the red head middle of March. As to the qualishoveler, and the black head shoveler ties for the table, of these fowl, the young swan is considered a great their toils; the simple solution, in this delicacy-while the old one is always case, is said to be, that it is the habit of the sturgeon to rub itself against any hard, and without agreeable flavor. thing stationary that it meets with in the The wild goose is deemed much superior to the tame goose. The canWe can't dismiss this subject without vass back, it is known, stands unrimentioning another singular habit belonging peculiarly to this fish, that of occa- valled in the taste of the epicure, as sionally throwing itself to a considerable the most delicious bird in this or any distance above water, to the height of at other country. The red head sholeast eight or ten feet, so that in the pause veler, and the blue winged teal are between the ascent and descent, the whole fish is seen suspended in a horizontal po- but little inferior to it, in the estima sition for a moment, in the air. They tion of connoisseurs, in that way; and have sometimes fallen in this way, very of all the other kinds of these ducks, much to the risque of those on board, in there is not one, when in good conthe boats plying at the Ferry in George

narrow waters.

town, in this District: and an unfortunate dition, that is not fine game. Most occurrence took place during the revolu- of them are found in abundance durtionary war, productive of a most serious ing the season from the immediate viaccident, on the North river. A sturgeon

came down from one of these leaps into a cinity of the city of Washington, down ferry-boat while crossing that river, on the salts, and some of them are seen the lap of an American officer, who was in both the salt and fresh water haa passenger and sitting in the sturn, with bitually or occasionally.

such violence as to break his thigh and THE SWAN is not found nearer

occasiion his death."

than about 30 miles below Washing- a few weeks before their departure ton: at the mouth of Occoquan, on about the first of March, they graduthe right bank of the river is his ally become thinner in flesh, and in highest feeding ground, which is the the latter part of their sojourn here, lowest spawning place of the white are found so poor and light, that shad. Here, and for some 30 or 40 when shot, the gunner gets nothing miles below, this noble bird is seen fit for use but the feathers: whether floating near the shores, in flocks of this circumstance be owing to their some two or three hundred, white as having exhausted the means of subthe driven snow, and from time to sistence at their feeding places, or time, emitting fine sonorous, and oc- that they are taught by him who casionally melodious songs, so loud rules the universe, in small as well that they may be heard on a still eve- as great things, thus by abstaining, to ning two or three miles; there are prepare themselves for the long ærial two kinds, so called from their res- voyage they are about to undertake, pective notes-the one the trumpeter, we pretend not to determine with cerand the other the slooper; the trum-tainty, there is nothing more wonpeter is the largest-and when at derful in this, than in the fact, which full size, will measure from five to is notorious, that they by exercise, six feet from the bill to the point of regularly and assiduously fit themthe toe, and from seven to eight feet selves for this continuous effort, to from the tip of one wing to the tip of bear themselves through the air to the other, when stretched and expand- the distance of perhaps a thousand ed. They are sagacious and wary, miles or leagues; large flocks are and depend more on the sight than seen every day rising from the river on the sense of smell. On a neck and taking a high position, flying nearly three feet in length, they are out of sight and apparently moving enabled to elevate their head so as to in a circuit to a considerable distance, see and distinguish with a quick and again returning at or near the same penetrating eye objects at a great dis-place, during the last two or three tance, and by means of this same weeks of their stay.* length of neck they feed in slack THE WILD GOOSE is yet more tides, by immersing, as is their habit, wary and vigilant to keep out of nearly all of the body-and throwing harm's way than the swan. He too only their feet and tails out, in three is sharp sighted, but depends much or four feet water, and on the flatty on his sense of smell for protection; shores they frequent, generally be- this is so well known to the huntsyond gun-shot; the sportsman avail- man, that he never attempts, however. ing himself however of a peculiar he may be concealed from this bird, propensity (of which we shall pre- to approach it from the direction of sently speak more particularly) pre- the wind, since he would assuredly vailing with them and some of the be scented before he could get within other water fowl, often toll them with- gun-shot, and left to lament his error, in reach of their fire: the swan re- by the sudden flight of the whole. main here the whole winter, only flock. These geese toward spring shifting their ground in severe wea- often alight on the land and feed on ther from the frozen to the open part the herbage in fields, and sometimes of the river, and dropping down into in such numbers as to do great inthe salts where it is rarely frozen. They get into good condition soon after their arrival in autumn, and remain fat until toward spring-when

*Perhaps this exercise may account for leanness may be a motive for the exercise. the leanness--and perhaps to produce this Ed. Gaz.

jury to the wheat fields on the bor-finds the flock advancing, and by that ders of the river. When so employ- he is to assume, under cover of the ed they are difficult of approach, al- horse, at about what point, each movways taking a position at a distance ing in oblique lines, he will be brought, from cover of any kind and march- within gun-shot of them. All this ing in a single and extended rank being settled in his mind, he com flanked by a watch goose at each ex-mences his movement, first having tremity, which, while all the others taken off the saddle and tied up the are busily feeding and advancing bridle, so as to show as little as poswith their heads down among the sible of it, he then, with his gun in herbage, moves erect, keeping pace one hand, and the other on the bridle, with his comrades, his eye and nose places himself on the side of the, in a position so as to convey to him horse opposite to the game, his legs the earliest intelligence of the pre-placed behind the forelegs of the sence of an enemy, though at a great horse, and his body so bent as to be distance; and the moment such is concealed by the shoulder and neck, perceived, it is communicated to the of the horse in this constrained atwhole company by certain tones used titude, he urges his faithful coadjutor for alarm, and immediately is res- slowly in the direction fixed on, alponded to by a halt and the lifting of lowing him every now and then to heads, and an instant flight, or a de- stop and regale himself on the young liberate return to feeding takes place, wheat or the herbage over which he according as the nature of the dan is making his way. The geese, ac ger, after the examination may be customed to find the domestic ani considered. In the progress of this mals, and none more common than march the centinels on the flanks are the horse, pasturing on the fields they regularly relieved at intervals of frequent-see in his approach no some fifteen or twenty minutes, they cause of alarm--and if due precaufalling carelessly into the feeding tion has been taken to guard against ranks, and others taking in their the snuffing of the taint of man, place the tour of duty on their march. which there is no question that na- In this arrayed state, they are attacked ture has taught him readily to distinwith great difficulty by the gunner; guish, he arrives in due time within his only chance of approach, is by the deadly reach, and manovering a means of a horse trained for the pur- while to get a raking fire, presently pose and much precaution is used deals out destruction on the thus cirin this petite guerre. He first, cumvented troop. But to attain the on perceiving the flock feeding in an object, great patience and endurance extensive field-and on none other are necessary. Hours are consumed will they commit themselves-recon- in taking and keeping the position. noitres the locale, and takes cogni- with the requisite accuracy, as we zance of the direction of the wind- have been assured by our informant, he then having observed the course who has been an experienced sportsof march, enters the field at a point man in these regions, and often himso remote, as at the same time to es- self gone through the ordeal of wet cape close scrutiny, and place his feet, benumbed hands, bare head, and game in such a relative situation to this crooked position of the body for him, as that he has the wind,-that several hours, on a stretch, watching is, be the air light or strong,-it is to under the neck of the horse, with blow from them toward him, and not snatched glance, the bearing of the from him toward them. Next he is centinels, and on the slightest indicato estimate by the pace at which he tion of suspicion, setting the horse to

feed, with his own limbs and body so and that from that time to the present, disposed behind him as not be ex the canvass back duck ceased to make posed to the line of vision from the his annual visit to that rivers and it other quarter until suspicion was is added, that about the same time the lulled again, carp-fish ceased to frequent it, and "DUCKS. Of all the duck tribe, indeed it is affirmed, that this fish is the canvass back, as well on account only found in the rivers, to which of their vast numbers, as their supe- that duck resorts. If this really be rior value, are to be placed in the so, it must be, that both are enticed first class. They breed, as is sup- by the same kind of food, or that the posed, on the borders of the northern grass in question, by some other lakes or of Hudson bay, they come quality, suits the purposes of the carp to us periodically, as has been before fish.

said, from the north, and what is re- "The canvass back feeds in from 6 markable, have never before been to 10 feet water; he is an expert known to visit, unless rarely and in diver, and with great strength and small numbers, any other than the agility, seizing. it probably near the waters of the Chesapeake-and of bottom, eradicates the grass, brings it these, of late years, they have con- up root and branch to the surface, fined themselves entirely to the Po- where he bites off the root, (which is tomac and the Susquehannah. For-bulbous, white and about four tenths merly they frequented also James of an inch across, and six tenths long,) river, but for the last thirty or forty and eating that only, leaves the long years have deserted that river alto herbaceous part to float on the water. gether; they were called shelldrake "Very frequently there are found there as they were in those days in feeding among these fowl, the BALD the Potomac the white duck-on the FALL DUCK; he has not the power Susquehannah, the canvass back; but of diving entirely under water in latterly the name of canvass back has search of his food, and here he is been given to them on both these last employed in watching the rising of named rivers, where they are now the canvass back, and in snatching only known. It is well ascertained the grass from his grasp, much to that they feed on the bulbous root of his annoyance, and though the bald a grass which grows on the flats in face is the smaller duck, as he is the fresh water of these rivers, be- sprightly and active, he often suecause it is always found in their ceeds to get hold before the other has craws, and which has very much the done more than put his bill above color and the flavor of garden celery; water, and to obtain and make off it is to this food, that is attributed, and with the prize, (precious part, the we believe correctly, the peculiarly root and all,) but generally he condelicious taste of their flesh. tents himself with swimming about "It is said that during a remark- among the industrious divers, and ably hard winter some forty odd years devouring their leavings, the grassy ago, the wind having prevailed a part of the plant. The favorite paslong time from the northwest, and ture ground of the canvass back on blown so much of the water from the the Potomac is between Crane and flats of James river, that it froze to Mason's Islands, the first about twenthe bottom, inclosing the long tops of ty-five miles below Washington, and this grass so closely in the ice, that the latter within the District of Cowhen it broke up and was floated off lumbia opposite to George Town, in the spring, it tore the whole of it When this part of the river is conup by the roots and took it away-gealed, usually in January, they are driv

44

"Of late years, because of the in- few minutes, to fire on detached parcrease of hunters constantly in the ties, small in number, until a good pursuit, and the quantity of craft fly-portion of the flock has placed itself ing, they have been in a great mea- well huddled together, in the desired sure driven from the upper beds of position. The habit of these ducks, their favorite food, and are seldom, which, as we have said, are most exbut in small numbers, seen above the pert divers, is when feeding in flocks bridge, across the river at Washing near the bank, to take their course ton. But a little lower down, and across the shoal from the outer to the where the river becomes wider, when inner part of it, beginning on the outat rest at night, or when they have er part where the water is deepest, retired from feeding during the day, and progressing inwards with great they ride in the midst of it in such bustle and activity, each darting down numbers as literally to cover acres head foremost with much velocity, and of water. When they resort to the presently returning to the surface flats for feeding, they separate in a with the sought morsel in its bill, desdegree, but yet are found thus em- patching this, and repeating incesployed in flocks of many hundreds, santly the operation presenting a conand sometimes thousands. Until stant and rapid succession of comers within the last five and twenty years, up and goers down, without order, this game was obtained in no other and amidst a great splashing of waway than by shots from the land, and ter, until they find they have apIt was therefore, an object of great proached the inmost edge of the interest and sport with the amateur- growth of grass, when suddenly they gun-ners. all rise in succession to the surface, The positions opposite to their those first up waiting a moment for feeding places were known, slight the last to come, and now the whole blinds of brush wood were thrown up flock being above water, and exhibiton the edges of the banks, previous to ing three times the number it before their arrival in the fall, of four or five seemed, with one accord, they fall infeet height, under cover of which, in to close order, wheel and swim slow. a stooping posture, the sportsman can ly along, in a direction parallel for reach the desired point undiscovered some two or three hundred feet with by the sight, (for it happens that this the bank, as well to recover from bird is not like some of its tribe, as their fatigue, as to place the column the malard and others, armed with a over ground, not yet foraged; and this strong sense of smell) and here post- done, facing outward, they re-comed, if one of skill and patience in his mence their work of diving and feedVocation, he waits often no inconsid- ing, now moving toward the outer erable time for the proper occasion to edge of the shoal. give the greater effect to his fire. It is at this critical moment at the Sometimes when the tide makes high- proper stage of the wheeling motion, er, deepening the water near the bank, that the sportsman in ambush, seeks and so inducing the ducks to run to open on his unsuspecting victims closer in, but most generally forego- the deadly fire; it is when with eleing fair opportunities during every vated heads and the greater part of the body out of the water, the ducks en by the ice lower down, to the brackish huddled in contact, have presented or salt water, and return on its dissolution their sides to him, that he directs his towards spring, but never in such condi-sight and draws his trigger on that tion, or with such good flavor; nor do they recover these after such an absence, section of the flock, which, from its during that season. position, best suits his object. In

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