LOVE HAS ITS PAINS. 345 



sort of race with each other. Some are always diving, 

 and as these remain long under water, and their comrades 

 are going rapidly ahead in the while, they are of course 

 a good way behind the rest on re-appearance at the 

 surface. Immediately on coming up, they therefore take 

 wing, and, flying over the backs of their comrades, resume 

 their position in the ranks, or rather fly somewhat beyond 

 their fellows, with the object, as it would seem, of being 

 the foremost of the party. This frequently continues 

 across the bay, or inlet, until the flock is " brought up" 

 by the opposing shore, when they all generally take wing 

 and move off elsewhere. There is but little doubt they 

 are feeding at these times, which is the more probable 

 from the water where they thus disport themselves being 

 usually shallow, and the bottom studded with rocks, from 

 whence they gather cockles, mussels, and pemvinkles, 

 which constitute the principal part of their sustenance. 

 " Fair play is a jewel," according to the old saw ; and 

 so, perhaps, thinks the Hareld, for it would really appear 

 as if it adopted the somewhat curious manoeuvre men- 

 tioned, to prevent its companions from going over the 

 ground beforehand. 



Whilst pairing, which takes place in the beginning 

 of April, and long before its departure for the far north, 

 the Hareld is very noisy and clamorous. The males 

 are constantly chasing the females, while they them- 

 selves are pursued by numerous rivals. " It has been 

 remarked," says M. Ekstrom, " that certain of the females 

 are much more courted than the rest, a practice at one 

 time supposed to be confined to the human species. 

 Frequently, indeed, one sees an individual surrounded by 

 six or eight amorous males, the rest of the females looking 

 on with great dissatisfaction. Pain as well as pleasure 

 awaits on these filles de joie ; for imagining that even 

 though dead they will be equally courted as when alive, 



