CHAPTER SIXTEEN WILD DUCKS 



before this time were more like gristle than anything else, 

 quickly hardening, and giving the bird full power and use 

 of its pinions. The old bird then leads them forth at night 

 to the most distant feeding-places, either to the grass mea- 

 dows wherethey search forsnails or worms, ortothesplashy 

 swamps, where they dabble about all night, collecting the 

 different insects dr'young frogs that abound in these places. 

 As the corn ripens, they fly to the oat-fields in the dusk of 

 the evening, preferring this grain and peas to any other. 

 They are now in good order and easily shot, as they come 

 regularly to the same fields every night. As soon as they 

 have satisfied their hunger, they go to some favourite pool, 

 where they drink and wash themselves. After this, they re- 

 pair, before dawn, to their resting-place for the day, gener- 

 ally some large piece of water, where they can float quiet- 

 ly out of reach of all danger. In October, the drakes have 

 acquired their splendid plumage, which they cast off in the 

 spring, at that time, changing their gay feathers for a more 

 sombre brown, resembling the plumage of the female bird, 

 but darker. During the time that they are clothed in this 

 grave dress, the drakes keep in flocks together, and show 

 themselves but little, appearing to keep as much out of ob- 

 servation as possible. Duringtheactual time of their sprino- 

 moulting, the drakes are for some days so helpless that I 

 have frequently seen a dog catch them. The same thing- 

 occurs with the few wild geese that breed in the north of 

 Scotland. With regard to shooting wild ducks, I am no ad- 

 vocate or follower of the punt and swivel system. I can see 

 little amusement in taking a long shot at the sound of feed- 

 ing water-fowl, killing and maiming you know not what; 

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