344 FEATHERED GAME 



over the flocks while feeding, flying instantly 

 at an alarm, and only alighting a long distance 

 away. They seem to know at just what dis- 

 tance a modern shotgun is effective, so that, 

 when the gunner is "sculling" them In winter 

 they keep a watchful eye upon that seeming ice- 

 cake which the coots and bluebills allow to ap- 

 proach so readily, and as the old drake Whistler 

 looks over his shoulder at his pursuer he says 

 to himself, says he, "Three hundred yards 

 away, all right!" and down he goes for an- 

 other mouthful, bobs up, sit up on his tail, gives 

 his feathers a shake and takes another critical 

 survey of the diminishing distance, ' ' Two hun- 

 dred yards! Well it grieves me greatly thus 

 to leave you, but I must be going," and off he 

 streaks it with his swiftly-moving wings mak- 

 ing a loud whistling, of course very cheering to 

 the toiler in the float, who sits up and listens as 

 it grows fainter and fainter until he marks his 

 intended victim down a mile away, where he 

 waits for the gunner to follow him to be teased 

 some more. Their whistling may be heard a 

 long distance certainly half a mile on a still 

 day. The bird is strong-winged and swift of 

 flight. Audubon claims that a Whistler can 



