312 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



rapidly disappearing mud-banks. The exact locality 

 of the main bodies is not difficult to make out by 

 reason of their noisiness. The clear-toned "whee-you" 

 of the drakes is audible afar, and, on nearer approach, 

 the purring - growl of the ducks is also distinctly heard. 

 These single notes are incessant, but at intervals the 

 whole pack burst out into a simultaneous chorus, which 

 lasts perhaps half a minute, and then subsides. Wigeon, 

 like some higher types of creation, are always noisy after 

 a good dinner. In working*-up to wigeon by night, it is 

 absolutely essential to avoid going at all to windward, or 

 they spring at once ; they must also be kept full in the 

 play of the moon on the water, otherwise they cannot 

 be seen, even though within a dozen yards. With 

 regard to seeing the fowl, the writer can only envy 

 those who can detect wigeon on the mud on a dark 

 night, or even by such weak aid as starlight. This 

 is, of course, a matter of eyesight almost as much as of 

 practice ; and personally I am always content if, under 

 the most favourable conditions of smooth water and 

 bright moonlight ahead, I can make them out as soon as 

 within shot, or nearly so. 



It occurs to me, on reading over the foregoing, that, 

 between the flight-shooters at night and the punt-gunners 

 in early morning, the ducks may appear to have but a 

 poor chance. But this is not the case — quite the reverse : 

 no creatures on this earth enjoy greater natural defence 

 and protection, nor (considering their numbers) are any 

 more difficult to secure. On a great majority of nights 

 they enjoy absolute peace, since not one night in a 

 score is favourable for night-punting, and at all times 

 during low tide vast areas of the mud are inaccessible 

 alike to man or punts. It is only during the period 



