196 GAME-BIRDS AT HOME. 



drifted on the smooth water, while divers of all 

 sizes rose and sank or floated in it with only 

 neck or head above the surface. Many were so 

 tame that, standing up in the boat when the 

 water was still, you could see them dart around 

 below and snap little fish with forward or side- 

 wise stroke of the long neck and sharp bill with 

 a dexterity quite incredible in such a resisting 

 force as water. Here, swiftly descending from 

 on high, the snowy tern broke the water with 

 a splash ; there fish-ducks and butter-balls 

 skimmed the surface with whistling wing, while 

 teal, mallards, and canvas-backs dotted it far and 

 near. But among them you would look in vain 

 for a black brant, for they are very aristocratic 

 and rarely associate with the common herd of 

 water-fowl. Far out from the shore, however, 

 you could see thousands of dark dots on the 

 bright sheen of the water, some looming above 

 it in a faint mirage, black above and white be- 

 neath, and from their direction you might hear 

 a babel that comes from no other living throats. 

 But little would you gain by rowing toward 

 them. Years ago they were far too wary to 

 approach. One had to wait until they began 



