BUFFLE HEAD DUCK. 185 



bottom of the cavity with down, on which are deposited 

 from six to ten grayish white eggs, and sometimes these 

 are placed so far down in the hollow as to be almost out 

 of reach, being more than an arm's length away from the 

 opening. As a diver the Butter Ball takes rank among 

 the most expert of our Ducks, disappearing so quickly, 

 and apparently with so little exertion, that it is almost 

 impossible to shoot it when sitting on the water. When 

 alarmed, with a sudden flip up of its tail and a scattering 

 of a few drops of water, it vanishes beneath the surface, 

 appearing almost immediately at no great distance from 

 where it went under, and either dives again at once, or 

 takes wing, which it does easily and without any fuss. 

 Sometimes half a dozen of these birds will gather to- 

 gether in a sheltered piece of water, and be very busy 

 feeding. A few will dive with a sudden jerk, as if drawn 

 beneath the surface by an invisible string, and the others 

 will quietly swim about as if on the watch. The first that 

 went under water having returned to the surface, the 

 others dive, and so it goes on for a long time. Occa- 

 sionally all will disappear, and then the first one to rise 

 seems much disconcerted at not finding anyone on watch 

 and acts as if he was saying to himself that if he " had 

 only known their unprotected state, he would never 

 have gone under/' 



The flight of the BufHe Head is very rapid, and 

 generally performed in a straight line. So speedy 

 is its course that it flashes by one like a feathery 

 meteor, its wings forming a haze around the body, so 

 quickly do they move, and it is no easy thing to kill one 

 in the air as it hurls itself along. When alighting the 

 bird makes a considerable splash and noise, sliding along 

 for a couple of feet or so, before becoming stationary. 

 It utters at times a single guttural note, which sounds 



