254 Transactions. — Zoology. 



typically-coloured birds. They appear instinctively to know 

 that their peculiar and striking colours render them more con- 

 spicuous to their enemies. Albinism unquestionably causes 

 greater timidity and watchfulness in many species of birds so 

 affected. 



Being anxious to glean as many facts as possible on this 

 interesting question, I have for some time made inquiries 

 from several gentlemen who enjoy daily opportunities of ob- 

 serving flocks of ducks in a semi-wild state. From Mr. E. 

 Herring, of Alford House, Springburn, I have received some 

 valuable notes, which I avail myself of the privilege of giving 

 in extenso. He says : — 



" We protect the two hundred to three hundred grey ducks 

 which visit our lake. I have not seen a true case of albinism, 

 but several partial that are not crosses from the tame. Al- 

 though I have seen several crosses at Mr. Grigg's, I have not 

 ■observed one here. 



" The ducks arrive here at break of day and leave as dark- 

 ness comes on, flying generally in flocks of ten to twenty to 

 their relative feeding-grounds east and west. During the day 

 they rest on the banks of the lake, on stumps of trees just out 

 of water, and occasionally on a fence, standing on the end of 

 a stake on which a barbed wire is suspended. They take but 

 little notice of ourselves until a different dress is worn. They 

 apparently rest their evidence on colour. They will readily 

 eat grain, and are fond of acorns, tramping across the lawn to 

 the oak-trees. Except about a dozen which remain through- 

 out the summer, the others do not come here from breeding- 

 season to the commencement of the shooting-season. 



" This year they arrived in large flocks on a Sunday, about 

 a week before the shooting-season legally opened. That was 

 not from instinct, but a measure of safety. 



" The regular habitues of the place breed here on the 

 islands, but never rear their young. Swans, tame ducks, and 

 rats destroy them." 



It is generally believed that the grey duck is untamable, 

 and Sir Walter Buller states* that all attempts to tame them 

 have failed. We have three dozen of these birds pinioned 

 that were reared in the Domain during the last three seasons 

 which are perfectly tame. They follow visitors along the 

 walks for food, and while being fed several will lie on the 

 walks and permit themselves to be stroked with the hand on 

 the back. Like the paradise - duck, they are undoubtedly 

 easily tamable. 



In July the wild flock become more restless and spend 

 more time on the water. The males chase each other, and 



* I.e., p. 253, 



