SEA-DUCKS 3G9 



definition arises from their being less understood. These 

 variations can only be intimately observed, or, at any 

 rate, observed to the best advantage, by those who follow 

 the regular sport of wildfowling afloat, and who alone 

 enjoy the opportunity of becoming acquainted with 

 these wild creatures in their bleak and desolate haunts. 

 Hitherto, unfortunately, but few of those who have 

 seriously taken up this sea-craft have paid any attention 

 to ornithology ; while fewer still (though there are notable 

 exceptions) have displayed any intelligent appreciation 

 thereof. 



In the foregoing articles I have described, so far as 

 my opportunities of observation permit, the habits of 

 the different groups and species of ducks and geese which 

 are comprised under the term of wildfowl, as they come 

 under the notice of the punt-gunner. But the British 

 ducks are a numerous family, and there remains a section 

 which he never meets with, and of whose existence he 

 might remain wholly unaware, so long as he confined 

 his operations to the punt and the sheltered waters which 

 alone are navigable by these craft. The group of ducks 

 to which I here refer do not frequent " rivers, lakes, or 

 arms of the sea " ; they do not enter harbours or creeks ; 

 but their haunts are the open sea itself. The sea-ducks 

 comprise the scoter and the velvet scoter, the eider, 

 the long-tailed duck, and, to a less extent, the scaup. 



The last-named, as already described, is not infre- 

 quently met with inside harbours, where they go to 

 feed on young mussels, tellinas, and such-like shell-fish. 

 Still they are mainly sea-ducks, and a favourite resort is a 

 rock-bound, weed-covered bay on the open coast. Under 

 the shelter of a long black reef or scar, or within a narrow 



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