182 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS. 



happens to be from half to three-quarters flood. They have 

 then fed, and will be found congregated about the edge of the 

 rapidly disappearing mud-banks. The exact locality of the 

 main bodies is not very difficult to make out by reason of 

 their noisiness. The clear-toned " whee-you " of the drakes 

 is audible to a considerable distance, and, on a nearer 

 approach, the singular 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. Without this precaution they 

 cannot be seen, even though within a dozen yards. With 

 regard to seeing the fowd, to the writer it is only given to 

 admire 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. Despite all the laborious 

 efforts made to circumvent them, they are yet fully able to 

 take care of themselves, and prove more than a match for 

 the whole of us. On a great majority of nights they enjoy 

 absolute peace, and at all times during low tide vast areas of 

 the mud are inaccessible alike to man or punts. It must 

 be remembered that not one night in a score is really favour- 

 able for night-punting. It is only during the period of 

 moonlight each month that an attempt is possible, and, even 

 then, adverse climatic conditions — such, for example, as a 

 breeze of wind or heavy clouds obscuring the moon — may 

 utterly preclude all chance of success. There are probably 



