CHAPTER SIXTEEN WILD DUCKS 



gardless of storm or wind. It is a fine, handsome bird, 

 though of a rather heavy make. When flying, they have 

 very much the appearance of a black cock, having the 

 same white mark on the wing, and being black in all other 

 parts of their plumage. It is not difficult to approach these 

 birds in a boat, but as they are not fit to eat, they are not 

 much sought after. They are excellent divers, and must 

 be shot dead, or they generally escape. 



The golden-eye. Anas clmigula, and the morillon, are 

 common about the mouth of the river and burns. I have 

 often heard it argued that these two birds are merely the 

 same species in different degrees of maturity; but I do not 

 consider that there is the least doubt as to their being 

 quite distinct. I have frequently shot what I suppose to 

 be the young golden-eye not arrived at its full plumage; 

 but in these the white spot at the corner of the mouth is 

 more or less visible. The birds are larger than the morillon, 

 besides which the golden-eye, in whatever stage of mat- 

 urity it is found, always makes that peculiar noise with its 

 wings, when flying, which is not heard in the flight of the 

 morillon, or of any other kind of duck. I remember too, 

 once watching a pair of morillons in a Highland loch, late 

 in the spring; they had evidently paired, and were come 

 to the age of maturity, and ready for breeding.* 



The golden-eye dives well, remaining a considerable 

 time under water seeking its food, which consists of the 

 small shell-fish which it finds at the bottom. The morillon 

 frequents the same places as the golden-eye, but always 



* Nevertheless, it is quite certain that the morillon is but an adolescent golden-eye, 

 which species has not been recorded as breeding in the British Isles. — Ed . 



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