He declares, positively, that he knows nothing so easy of digestion as a canvas-back duck; and he eats away jollily up to his assertion.

How very catching it is!--each fresh arrival from the kitchen brings a fresh appetite to the party.

"One down, t'other come on," is the order of the day.

Those who read, may say "Gormandizer!" But many such, believe me, if placed behind three, or even four, of these luscious birds, cooked with the artistic accuracy of the Maxwell Point _cuisine_, would leave a cat but sorry pickings, especially when the bottle passes freely, and jovial friends cheer you on.

Of course, I do not allude to such people as enjoy that "soaked oakum," called "bouilli." To offer a well-cooked canvas-back duck to them, would, indeed, be casting pearls before--something.