224 



SEA-DUCKS. 



In describing the habitats and the natural economy of the 

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

 haunts are remote from the arm-chair of the Natural-his- 

 torian, and which cannot be observed during his after-break- 

 fast ramble, it has been customary to write somewhat vaguely. 

 Thus, on looking over some 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." The next species will 

 be described as frequenting " marshes, lakes, rivers, and 

 ai-ms of the sea," or, perhaps, such expressions as "creeks, 

 pools, and moist situations " may be substituted. There is 

 obviously an abundant scope in such descriptions for synon- 

 ymic 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 sub- 

 stance of the information that can be extracted from three- 

 fourths of the jiopulay 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-tril)e 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 description 

 simply arises from their being less understood. These 

 variations can only be accurately observed, or, at any rate, are 

 observed to the best advantage, by those who are sufficiently 

 enthusiastic to follow the regular sport of wildfowling afloat, 

 and who alone enjoy the opportunity of becoming acquainted 



