98 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
during winter in the British Isles) leave the estuaries and such 
spots where they spend the night, at daybreak, and seek out 
large fields and moors where grass, scattered grain, and shoots 
of clover are to be found. In the afternoon they repair again 
to the tideways or large inlandlakes. Ducks (except sea-ducks) 
feed by night, though when undisturbed or during bad weather 
they also feed by day. Their general habits are to ‘‘ flight” 
from the open waters at dusk and feed by night on the stubbles 
and inland marshes. Widgeon delight in feeding on the same 
food as brent. This food is a long weed with succulent white 
roots which grows on the mudflats in various estuaries and on 
the coast. Its scientific name is Zostera marina, but itis known 
in many places locally by gunners as ‘‘wrack grass,’’ ‘‘zos,” 
‘*widgeon weed,” andso on. At daybreak the ducks seek the 
open seas or bays for safety during the day, but if the weather 
is boisterous they will fly along-shore in trips searching for 
a safe shelter. At such times they also often resort to the 
mud-flats, and should any fresh-water stream run through the 
flats at low tide the ducks will be found during bad weather in 
incredible numbers sporting and drinking, or else dead asleep 
in the vicinity of such quarters. But ducks are hardy fowl, 
and little shelter will suffice them; thus it is only at places 
where the tide recedes far out from the mainland that ducks 
may be met with availing themselves of such conditions. The 
sea-ducks feed day and night, according to tide times and 
condition of the weather. 
Shore-birds—i.e., those of the wader tribe—are very regular 
in their habits in winter. As the tide flows and so covers their 
feeding grounds, shore-birds of the commoner kinds, such as 
curlew, plover, gotwit, red-shank, knot, and dunlin, wing in 
small parties higher up the estuaries or along the coast to 
places where sandbars, salting edges, or islands are to be found, 
and on which they may rest until the tide recedes. Their chief 
feeding times are governed by the tides; thus it is compulsory 
