CHAPTER XXXI 



SEA-DUCKS 



In describing the habitat and the natural economy of the 

 various members of the duck-tribe, and of other birds 

 whose haunts are remote from arm-chairs, and which 

 cannot be observed during an after-breakfast ramble, it 

 has been customary to write somewhat vaguely. Thus, 

 on looking over many books on Natural History, the 

 haunts of any. given species of duck will be stated to be 

 "arms of the sea, rivers, lakes, and marshes," or perhaps 

 such expressions as "creeks, pools, and moist situations" 

 may be substituted. There is obviously abundant scope 

 for synonymic verbosity and neatly-turned paraphrase ; 

 but when all that is written is " boiled down," it amounts 

 to little more than platitude. Every schoolboy knows 

 that ducks swim, and require water to swim in ; and this, 

 despite all the redundant verbiage employed, is about 

 the sum and substance of the information that can be 

 extracted from three-fourths of the popular works on this 

 subject. Endeavour to ascertain from them any special 

 feature — consult them with a view to confirming personal 

 observations or ideas— they are silent. 



Yet the duck-tribe vary in their haunts and habits, 

 as between one species and another, quite as much as 

 any other family of the feathered race. The poverty of 



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