. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America [microform]. Birds; Ornithology; Game and game-birds; Water-birds; Oiseaux; Ornithologie; Gibier; Oiseaux aquatiques. 33« SWIMMERS. Ill and high estimation in which these Ducks are held, spurs the ingenuity of the gunner to practise every expecUent which may promise success in their capture. They are sometimes decoyed to shore or within gunshot by means of a dog trained for the purpose, which, playing backwards and forwards along the shore, attracts the vacant curiosity of the birds, and as they approach within a suitable distanc
. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America [microform]. Birds; Ornithology; Game and game-birds; Water-birds; Oiseaux; Ornithologie; Gibier; Oiseaux aquatiques. 33« SWIMMERS. Ill and high estimation in which these Ducks are held, spurs the ingenuity of the gunner to practise every expecUent which may promise success in their capture. They are sometimes decoyed to shore or within gunshot by means of a dog trained for the purpose, which, playing backwards and forwards along the shore, attracts the vacant curiosity of the birds, and as they approach within a suitable distance, the concealed fowler rakes them first on the water, and afterwartls as they rise. Some- times by moonlight the sportsman directs his skiff towards a flock, whose position he has previously ascertained, and keep- ing within the projecting shadow of some wood, bank, or head- land, he paddles silently along to within fifteen or twenty yards of a flock of many thousands, among whom he consequently makes great destruction. As the severity of the winter augments, and the rivers be- come extensively frozen, the Canvas-backs retreat towards the ocean, and are then seen in the shallow bays which still remain open, occasionally also frequenting the air-holes in the ice, and openings which are sometimes made for the purpose, immediately over ih" beds of sea-grass, to entice them within gunshot of the hut or bush fixed at a convenient distance for commanding the hungry flocks. So urgent sometimes are the Ducks for food in winter that at one of these artificial openings in the ice, in James River, a Mr. Hill, according to Wilson, accompanied by a second person, i)icked uj) from one of these decoys, at three rounds each, no less than eighty-eight Canvas- backs. The Ducks crowiled to the place so that the whole open space was not only covered with them, but vast numbers, waiting their turn, stood inactive on the ice around it. The Canvas-back will also eat seeds and grain as well as
Size: 2575px × 970px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectorn
