Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-19

vas backs. 50. 50as5 per pair; red heads 81 Pa
| Sl.O per pair; shutters 60a75 cents: widgeons
60as5 cents; rocks, OF bar ducks 50 cents per
pair; blue wings. - centsto 81 per pair mallard,
-l5o per pair: grouse. l.s0 per pair; pheasants.
| Sl-5o: ployers, p cents each: yenison % cents
per pound: wild geese. IS cents each: wood
cock. 90 cents each; quail "a per dozen; rabbits,
$50 per dozen. There are no reed birds nor
| ortoian In the markets now.
THE CANVAS BACKS
| arrive in the Potomac river soon after the cold
weather comes, but thus far they have not been
plentiful Being in great demand they are
much sought after and are gradually getting
scarce, especially in the upper Potomac. Yet
the old gunners say there is no better feeding
grounds for them than between the Long bridge
and Alexandria. Wild celery grows more
abundant and of the best quality on the
extensive sand and mud bar az that Mace
ai .hese ducks are kept away by the constant
shooting at them. No duck is so much I'm favor
as the canvas back. when taken from about this
BAR They are generally among the last 10 ar
| rive and among the first TO leave here but are
louho later IN the lower river and bay They
are esteemed by the dealers for their quality OF
Keeping better and holding their irmness OF
mesh longer than any other ducks sold While
other noted fowl lose their solidity and game
naNor 10y being boxed for some DAYS The canvas
packs retain all their qualities and keen in good
! condition. This is accounted for on the theory
tlat they feed only on the delicate roots of the
wild celery while most other ducks are like
r.snsa h, gorSing themselves on the
reiuse blades of the celery tops. rejected
| oy the canvas backs. They are muscular
/ OF great strength. are great divers and will
work longer under water than other ducks. and
! are masters of them ALL generally driving them
/ from their feeding places IL is said by old gn-
! ners that when the canvas hacks reach the sur
| lace with the choice tidbts i'm their mouths the
| red-neck ducks will sometimes await their an
! pearance and attack them before they can re-
their Sfr
/ iood, obtained by their superior foraying now
ers. well conditioned canvass back has an
| average weight OF about three pounds. and is
equaiied In bulk, though not in strength and
.inness OF flesh, only 10y the red neck They
ieed In the upper river when they appear there
rate oil evenings and early in the mornings when
thet generally rise early. and often do not settle
untii they reach the lower river Among the
earliest In the season to make their anpearanca
/ here are
THE BLUE WING TEAL.
They come with the cool nights. are about
the same size as the green wing teal both being
marked with spot OF the color designating
them on the shoulder portion of their wings
Ihey Iced In shallow waters where they can
reach the bottom without much diving: are fire.
quently captured from the shores of iplets and
creeks, and are considered the finest fall ducka
ia The markets. They take their leave early i'm
the season.
me SUM oh WOOD
do not emigrate, but remain hereabouts the
e'i'Te year, and are generally in good condition
Tor eating, except the season of incubation.
Unlike most all other ducks they build their
nests in hollow trees; are swift on the wing.
feed largely on seed and tender grasses. The
usual price is 5Oa75 cents per pair. The male
has very beautiful plumage: the female n drah
breast lnterspersed with brown feathers and
Drown backs. They are not full web-footed.
wIDGEoNs
arrive this month"; and are generally found
about shallow water and in marshes They are
larger than the teal and other early ducks. are OF
gray color, and feed on roots and water grasses.
which they pull from the bottom They are not
divers.
THE GRAY AND BLACK MAILARp
come about the same time. and their habits ars
similar to those of the wideeon. They resemble
nearly the grey tame duck and will frequently
alght, and for several hours at a time keen
company with the tame ducks q ponds and
small streams. They are generally plentiful I'm
the Potomac river. and Hunting Creek below
Alexandria. is fayOrite resort for them They
are coarse feeders. and their meat is Of rather
coarse navor and quality.
THE STIFF TAILS.
About the same time comes therook. n smaller
duck sometimes called ''stiff tails the feathers
are great divers. great lovers of wild celery,
and i'm appearance somewhat resemble the
female shuffer, being greysh in color The
male has a white streak running from the stump
OF his bill back on the sides of the head They
are a little smaller than the shufier plentiful
TINS year. and are not easily frightened off by
the gunners. They are generally found on deem
waters over bars in the river where wild celery
grows on the bottom abundantly. They are
good feeders and are in good condition this
year and sell from 40 to so cents per pair.
THE RED NEcKs.
Next to the canvas backs the red necks are
the most valuable, and many prefer them to the
former. They come in October They have
been scarce this year, though it is reported that
many are seen in other rivers of the Chesapeake
bay. They are frequenters Of any rivers and
marshes where wild celery grows. are good
divers and remain under water as long as any
OF the duck family. They are large weighing
nearly as much as the canvas backs. The male
has red neck and nearly black head: the female
similar IN size and form to the canvas backs,
with finely shaped head and more delicately
formed. They can be taken all along the river.
I'm It's entire length. in deep water wherever
wild celery grows. They are shot both on the
water and from decoys or on the wing
THE sHUFFLER
the most common. and at present most plent1.
full. is an excellent table duck; is fat and makes
eoou gazing lhes are easily recognized by
their white breasts and dark necks and heads.
and are sometimes known as 'black heads" are
smaller than the red necks and coarse feeders
SPRIG TAILS
are similar in appearance and size to the NAL
lard, the only difference being that they have
two long stiff tail feathers one on each side ofthe
tail, and they feed almost exclusively at the
upper ends of creeks and shOal streams where
they can find plenty Of mud to waow in and
search for insects and tender roots. which they
bore for. having long bills and muscular necks.
They are plentiful i'm the Four Mile run. and
can sometimes be taken some dist ance on the
shores from water. They are of large size,
long ana narrow. but not usually in good con-
dtiOn Whistlers. Southerds and Dippers are
also brought to this market. but are hard to
Kill as they will dodge the flash of a gun and
go under water.
QUAIL. ARE SCARCE,
owing to the intense cold of last winter which
must have killed them. The gunners saw that
the old coverts, where last year bevies of from
twenty to thirty could generally be found, are