312 HKITISH HIRDS. [vol. ix. 



Unlike most species of duck, Sb eld-drakes are not clumsy 

 on land. They assembled on their leking-ground about 

 11 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. The hot silence of the sandhills 

 would suddenly be broken bj'^ the sound of their w ings. As 

 they drew near, their soft call-note " S'osthieu. S'osthieu, 

 S'osthieu,'" uttered in unison by a number of Ijirds together, 

 was like the sighing of the wind in the reeds. Perhaps 

 only two or three A\ould come at first, but by and by 

 the numbers increased. Soon the silver-grej^ sward was 

 alive with these brilliant drakes. Some bathed and then 

 sat apart preening themselves. Others began to play 

 at once. They tilted \\'ith lowered heads, out-stretched 

 wings and arched necks. The preliminary- steps were 

 slow and stately, but gradually the pace quickened. 

 When close together, the A\ings were raised and arched, 

 yet pressed close to the body. Then the neck was sud- 

 denly thrust out horizontally, and the drake which first 

 got his thrust home would throw up his head vertically. 

 This seemed to signify that he had scored a point. He 

 then moved his h.ead rapidly up and down with sinuous 

 twists of the neck, so that the latter looked like a series 

 of loops. 



Sometimes these combats took tlie form of duels, but 

 frequently there was a general melee, when it seemed as 

 if " Everybody had won and all must have prizes." The 

 entertainment was entirely lacking in hatred or an\' 

 uncharitable ness. 



It was a beautiful game to watch and in addition very 

 amusing. The Sheld-drake's upper mandible curves uj)- 

 wards. When the brilliant red bill is wide open, as the 

 birds rush squealing at each other, their whole expression 

 is irresistibly funny. 



If they came within the Ringed Plover's territory, he 

 made frantic dashes at the drakes, and they good- 

 humoured ly waddled farther off. 



Towards sunset they took wing again and each went 

 away alone and circled near the place where bis mate 

 was brooding. The drake then called softly — " Kek, 



