94 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



When the weather is stormy and rough, or in times 

 of snow and frost they frequent dykes and ditches, 

 where the water is not stagnant but running, which 

 intersect most marshy lands. I believe much sport 

 is to be had with these species by the aid of artificial 

 decoy-ducks. 



One of the ducks was, as far as my memory serves 

 me, shot on that sea-wall mentioned in connection 

 with the Wigeon case, and the drake and other 

 duck with Michael Casey and his boat. On that 

 occasion there had been a fine spring tide, leaving 

 many banks and promontories of sand exposed after 

 a few hours ebb. On a place of this sort we spotted 

 about a dozen Mallard feeding. Casey soon took 

 stock of their position, and going under cover of any 

 banks he could get, he approached to within 

 shot of them, the result being several cripples which 

 I followed up and polished off afterwards. 



The day being rough and the sea very choppy, it 

 was a matter of considerable difficulty to make out the 

 drakes on the water, as they have an artful way of 

 submerging themselves up to their beaks. This 

 species " is abundant in Iceland during the summer 

 and is generally distributed throughout Europe, 

 south of the Arctic circle, breeding in suitable 

 localities down to the Mediterranean, and also in 

 Northern Africa. In Asia it is found wherever the 

 water does not freeze for any length of time, from 

 Turkestan to China and Japan. Visits India in the 

 cold season, and inhabits the temperate portions 

 of North America." (H.S.) 



