Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-01
THE CANVASBACK.
The Aristocratic Wild Duck at
Home.

The Boston Transcript
From the epicure's view point, OF
course, the canvacback is the duck of
ducks. This year. however, birds of
this species will be obtain chiefly not
from the Chesapeake, but from Curr-
tuck Sound and that neighborhood, the
reason being that the wild celery beds
of the famous bay have been destroyed
temporarily to n great extent by floods
and storms. The vegetable in question,
which furnishes the favorite food of
the canvasback. is one of the most re-
markable plants known 10 the botanist.
1t grows wholly under water, being
otherwise known as ribbon grass.
from Its long ribbon like leaves, which
grow directly out Of the muddy bot
toms of shallow fresh water or brack-
ism water streams and bays. The ducks
eat the tuDers which are formed on
the short stems beneath the surface of
the mud. Those tubers are white like
the inside of celery head. full of
starch, and would doubtless prove an
excellent vegetable for human con-
sumption If tried.
Now what makes this plant most
notable is its peculiar method of repro-
NNN'H6 us oIcCItS. lie female flower
is borne on the end OF long stalk
which uplifts itself just above the sur
race or the water. The male blossoms
on the other hand. are developed in n
water tIghr Sheath at the base of The
leaves, near the surface of the mud
When the time of ripenese arrives Tho
Sheath breaks open and liberates hum
ureus OF little yellow flowers, which
rise quickly to the surface and 0oat
about. They are hardly bigger than
the heads of ordinary pins but n II.
more or less likely that one of tban,
sooner or later will come into contort
with the female blossom, which is com
paratively large being two inches il,
iehgth: ana slender. BY this CONTACT
iie hoi'eh Is transferred from The male
fertilized 'ei -
once She is fertilized, the long stalk
OF the female flower begins to coil liz
a spiral spring. the blossom devaloninsr
INTO growing pod. which is gradnaiis,
draWn down by the increase of tension
on the spring nearly to the mud NJ
lures purpose In this performance is
that there shall be no disturbance Ia,
surface wave and currents. Custom,
ariiy the wild celery grows in tido
marshes or in flowing streams. where II,
can nave water very much aerated
Which IL needs The fun grown ned
~
the course of time. are dronped ,nan
the mud, terminate and produce new
plants.
The canvass back duck. which Mt e.
pair. is the favoiite game bird of rich
people in this country, breeds in far
subarctic regions in Manitoba. Assini
hoia and even for Northern Alaska.
Along the tributaries Of the mighty YIN
kon 1t builds its nests in June. con-
| structing the basis for It's breeding cs-
adjustment in water a foot deep. on
the edge of lake or watercourse. This
substructurc is large pie of grass. on
which the nest proper is erected. with
sides well built up and lining of down
and feathers. the latter plucked by the
mother bird from her own breast. For
making the foundation the mother bird
pulls up all the dry grass within a ward
or two of her nest, thus leaving n
clearing.
The canvass back is one of the great
est travellers among ducks; 1t spends
the Summer near to the arctic circle.
and passes every Winter in the South
ern States, probably passing over the
border into Mexico. But it's favorite
cold weather habitat is in the bays
| and sounds Of Maryland and North
| Carolina. Ducks. generally speaking.
are divided into river ducks and sea
ducks. All the table ducks are fresh
water ducks, except the canvass back
| and the redhead. which are in a sense
| of the salt water inasmuch as they
feed in arms OF the sea. The redhead
Is closely allied to the canvass back,
being distinguished from the latter only