316 AQUATIC FOWL ON LAKES. 



indifference. Doubtless they are fully conscious of 

 the power with which winged flight has endowed them, 

 of almost instantly effecting their escape from pursuit 

 by members of the animal creation. They therefore 

 do not fear to tolerate the presence even of man within 

 a certain distance. Like all animated beings, birds 

 quickly distinguish friends, or neutrals, from possible 

 foes. Wildfowl therefore rarely show much fear of 

 cattle or other creatures, which have no power to hurt 

 them. 



They even appreciate how far the area of danger 

 extends, in the case of possible enemies. Thus large 

 flocks of ducks, and other wild fowl, will remain 

 quietly floating on the surface of the water in full 

 sight of man, when they know they are well out of 

 gunshot or other harm's way. It is an interesting and 

 instructive study upon such occasions to watch the 

 conduct of these birds, by means of a good glass. On 

 inland lochs, etc., vast flights of wildfowl may some- 

 times thus be seen assembled together in full view of 

 houses, and of persons passing along roads etc., during 

 periods when heavy weather prevails at sea; some 

 may be seen quietly sleeping, whilst others swim about, 

 and plume themselves; but in all cases, alert sentries 

 may be observed posted upon the outskirts of the flock 

 with heads and necks erect, intently watching for the 

 first symptom of danger exactly as in the case of a 

 human army encamped in the face of the enemy. 



These scenes are very common in the western wilds of 

 Connemara, or of the Donegal coast in Ireland, as well as 

 in every wild country where immense flocks of different 

 kinds of waterfowl often seek refuge upon lakes through- 

 out the day, during storms at sea. The arrival of 



