500 ANATIDi^i:. 



probably, of the river ; in a tuft of reeds surrounded by 

 quagmire ; among thick bushes near the bank ; under the 

 stump of an alder, or even high up among the branches, 

 she formerl^^ had her nest, composed of grass, and lined 

 with down from her own breast ; and at no great distance 

 from this her offspring are yet lingering. The latter could 

 swim immediately that they left the egg, but their bodies 

 are large and heavy in proportion to the size of their 

 wings, so that they will be unable to fly until nine 

 or ten weeks old, when they will be thoroughly fledged, 

 and only distinguishable from their parent by their smaller 

 size. 



From the rapidity with which young Ducks " scutter " 

 along the surface of the water, using both feet and wings, 

 they are called by sportsmen, " flappers ; " and from the 

 same habit no doubt the children's game of " Ducks-and- 

 drakes " was named. The word is one with which I have 

 been familiar, like most other people, from my earliest 

 years, yet I never thought of its etymology until I was 

 passing, a few weeks since, in a steamer down Loch 

 Tarbet. The boat disturbed a party of " flappers " which 

 were feeding near the shore, and as they half flew, half 

 paddled away at a rapid rate, the sport and the name 

 suggested themselves to my mind together. 



In Scotland, where there will always be lakes and 

 marshes. Wild Ducks are far more abundant than in 

 England ; but even here they vindicate the propriety 

 of the title " wild." Approach a reedy tarn among the 

 hiUs as warily as you please ; all the birds that are strong 

 of Alight will most probably take their departure while you 

 are yet a hundred yards off, the partially fledged having 

 hurriedly hidden themselves among the rushes and water- 

 lilies. 



In such situations, both in England and Scotland, these 

 birds remain all the year round ; but their numbers are 

 greatly augmented in winter by the arrival of large flocks 



