222 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



they are intimately acquainted with every pool and 

 point of vantage in all the wild land for leagues around. 

 That is their safeguard. An odd shot or two may (or 

 may not) be obtained by placing a concealed gun on their 

 probable line of retreat, but that is all. 



Of the ducks from over-sea, that which most interested 

 me was the golden-eye, for to him I am grateful for 

 many memories and many an exciting hour. Not that 

 he is extremely wild, in fact the case is rather the reverse. 

 Golden-eyes arrive from mid-October onwards and dis- 

 tribute themselves, singly or in small bunches, on every 

 water, fresh or salt, stagnant or stream, highland or 

 lowland. Next to the mallard, they are the commonest 

 duck of the highland loughs and afford some charming 

 sport. For, whereas the mallards, on first alarm, mount 

 high in air and depart afar, the golden-eyes, on the con- 

 trary, either because, being strangers, they know not the 

 country and its waters, or because of their own self- 

 confidence and simplicity, remain afloat. Self-confidence, 

 however, is either misplaced or overestimated ; since it is 

 seldom that, having seen a pair or more, one fails to secure 

 them. In truth, on first arrival they are simple fowl. By 

 sending a man round them, they will often swim towards 

 or fly over a concealed gun. Then, even after being shot 

 at, golden-eyes are quite likely to continue circling' round 

 overhead ; indeed, should there be no other water within 

 their sight, they may return to pitch alongside their 

 defunct companions. Thus it is always worth while 

 after a shot, though the ducks may have disappeared 

 in the distance, to remain in hiding for ten minutes 

 longer. 



Golden-eyes are distinguishable from all other ducks 

 at a distance by their white wing-spot, or "speculum," 



