310 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. IX, 



Sheld-duck began to arrive at Holy Island on February 

 3rd. Courting began on April lOtli, and the first brood of 

 young was batched on June 4tb. Their courtship is 

 noisy. The drakes dash across the water at each other, 

 stretching out their necks and uttering a hoarse " kak, 

 kak, kak," rapidly repeated. Rival Sheld-drakes show 

 no great vindictiveness. These mimic battles raged on 



Fitr. 4. toJlAluN TEKN " PLAYINU " ON A WINDY DAY. 

 [Photographed by Miss E. L. Turner.) 



the mere all day for a week or so. After pairing, the 

 duck and drake fly about together, or play in the Avater, 

 or sit on the lo-w-lying rocks b}?^ the sea, amusing them- 

 selves until the ducks begin to sit. Isolated pairs seem 

 content with each other's society, and the drakes sit 

 about in solitary grandeur all day ^liile their mates 

 brood. But at Sneuk Point, where numbers breed, 

 the drakes seemed to indulge in regular organised games, 

 and were more or less gregarious. 



