THE BLACK SCOTEE. 255 



birds, which utter gentle cries of terror as they crowd together. 

 The boats, however, hem them in on all sides, gradually contract- 

 ing their circle so as to shut the birds up in an enclosed space. 

 The Black Scoters, seeing the enemy advancing upon them, in their 

 anxiety take to diving and plunging about. But, before long, 

 being closely pressed, they spread their wings and take flight 

 over the heads of their enemies. This is the signal for the com- 

 mencement of the first volley. There is now no cessation in the 

 resounding reports of the guns; for usually no less than five 

 hundred sportsmen meet on the surface of a not very extensive 

 lake, such as those of Mauguio or Palavas. The massacre lasts 

 for some hours ; in fact, these unfortunate birds, incapable of 

 flying very far, are pursued from place to place by the pitiless 

 boats, which are soon, like the bark of the venerable Charon, laden 

 with the dead. When no birds remain on the lake, the boats 

 return to the shore, rowing along the banks to hunt out the 

 wounded. Three thousand of these birds will sometimes fall 

 before the murderous guns in the space of a few hours. Almost 

 as a matter of course, quarrels often arise among the sportsmen. 

 The cause of dispute may be some bird which has been shot at 

 from several boats at the same moment. These disturbances, which 

 usually begin with shouts and abuse, from the warmth of the 

 southern blood sometimes terminate fatally. In this sport tumult 

 reaches its utmost pitch, and it is as productive of danger as of 

 pleasure. Sometimes a boat capsizes, owing to the excessive 

 eagerness of the rowers ; sometimes a sportsman is wounded by an 

 awkward neighbour, or two or three men fall into the water in 

 trying to reach their prey. Such are the exciting scenes that I have 

 often witnessed in my youth ; they were the supreme delight of 

 the boys of Clapas (Montpellier). The same sport is practised at 

 Hyeres, in the Var, and on the lake of Berre, near Marseilles. 



On the coasts of Picardy, where the Black Scoter abounds during 

 winter, very destructive means are used for their capture. Nets 

 are stretched horizontally in the water, above the banks of shell- 

 fish which the sea has left uncovered at its reflux, and on which 

 these birds feed. When they dive to seize their prey they become 

 entangled in the meshes of the net, from which they cannot escape. 



The Black Scoter is also the object of individual sport when it 



