432 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



good order for the table. They are excellent divers, and 

 swim with speed and agility. They sometimes assemble by 

 thousands in a flock, and rising suddenly on wing produce 

 a noise like thunder. During the day, they are com- 

 monly dispersed about in quest of food, but towards even- 

 ing collect together, and coming into the creeks and river 

 inlets, ride as it were at anchor, with their heads under 

 their wings asleep; sentinels, however, appear awake and 

 ready to raise an alarm on the least appearance of danger. 

 At other times they are seen swimming about the shoals, 

 and diving after the sea-wrack, which they commonly pluck 

 up, and select only the tenderest portion towards the root. 

 Though thus laboriously engaged, they are still extremely 

 shy, and can rarely be approached but by stratagem, for 

 even while feeding, several remain unemployed and vigilant 

 against any surprise. When wounded in the wing they 

 dive to prodigious distances, and with such rapidity, and 

 perseverance as almost to render the pursuit hopeless. The 

 great demand and high estimation in which these Ducks 

 are held, spurs the ingenuity of the gunner to practise 

 every expedient which may promise success in their capture. 

 They are sometimes decoyed to shore or within gun-shot by 

 means of a dog trained for the purpose, which, playing 

 backwards and forwards alonor the shore, attracts the vacant 

 curiosity of the birds, and as they approach within a suita- 

 ble distance the concealed fowler rakes them first on the 

 water, and afterwards as they rise. Sometimes by moon- 

 lio-ht the sportsman directs his skiff towards a flock, whose 

 position he had previously ascertained, and keeping within 

 the projecting shadow of some wood, bank, or headland, 

 he paddles silently along to within 15 or 20 yards of a flock 

 of many thousands, among whom he consequently makes 

 great destruction. 



As the severity of the winter augments, and the rivers 



