342 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



gunners who are lying in wait on the 

 muds for Wigeon and Mallard." 



Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, in "The 

 Fowler in Ireland," writes : — " When met 

 with in twos and threes, Scaup are very 

 tame, but if many are together they are 

 wild and difficult of approach. By reason 

 of their dark appearance on the water, 

 and the large bulk of body exposed, no 

 fowl show thicker at a distance, or scatter 

 more when neared. They are most un- 

 satisfactory birds to follow in every way. 

 Their edible quality is far from good, and 

 a successful shot is very seldom made at 

 them." 



Scaup Ducks appear, however, to be 

 very often tame and easily approached. 

 Mr. Abel Chapman has observed these 

 birds closely, and I shall quote his interest- 

 ing remarks. He tells us, in his 

 "Bird-Life of the Borders," that— "the 

 feeding-grounds of the Scaup are over 

 rocks where sea-weed grows luxuriantly, 

 and where they dive among the long, 

 waving tangles in search of the various 

 shell-fish and their spawn and the host 

 of minute forms of marine life which 

 abound in such places. Owing to this 

 preference, their company is often con- 

 fined all through the winter to certain 



