THE AMERICAN EIDER 379 



ing flight, but silent all, and looking like a flock 

 of animated tenpins, — the heavy, lumbering 

 flight of "coots," or ''surf ducks," winging 

 their way to some less troubled stretch of water. 

 To-day this is a favorite feeding ground, but 

 to-morrow there may not be a Sea Duck here, 

 for they often change their range without ap- 

 parent cause, leaving a place where for weeks 

 they have been plenty and moving a few miles 

 away to return as suddenly as they went. 

 Sometimes this is the work of the wind which 

 may carry them miles away as they rest upon 

 the sea at night, but as often as not it is the 

 bird's own caprice. 



Right overhead, coming up behind you and 

 unnoting your presence where you were hidden 

 by the rocks, comes a big loon with out-stretched 

 neck and flying bravely with rapid wingbeats. 

 A shot only serves to hasten his flight, and 

 without a sound he keeps on, swinging in a 

 wide circuit to alight a mile away, perhaps 

 sorely hurt. The sun is up, the birds come in 

 thick and fast for an hour or so, then the flight 

 suddenly ceases. If you have held well and 

 truly, loaded the proper charges and placed 

 them where you ought, by this time, being a 



