THE POCHARD OR DUN-BIRD. 81 



for otlier wild-fowl during- the severest part of winter; when 

 tliey are indefatigable in their exertions in diving- in deep water and 

 bringing up to the surface abundant supplies of weeds and other lens 

 palustris, which, after being slightly picked over by the dun-birds, is 

 greedily attacked by wild-ducks and widgeon. When actively engaged 

 in diving for their food, dun-birds generally keep in scattered dop- 

 pings, within circles of about thirty or forty yards' circumference. 



Dun-birds are much in the habit of alighting in decoys at night, 

 when they are aware of good feeding there, and happen to have been 

 about the sea-coast during the day. They fly in a much moi-e irre- 

 gular body than the generality of wild-fowl : no straight or diverged 

 line marks their course ; but they proceed through the air in one 

 closely-packed body, making a loud hissing noise with their short 

 wings, which they use with very rapid stroke. 



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