302 THE SAWBILLED-DUCKS 



no doubt dependent on the attitude of the duck and the ardour of 

 her suitors. She may remain altogether passive, or may respond by 

 similar but not so pronounced actions, emitting a single note, some- 

 what louder than that of the male, and of a different type, which 

 appears to be the same harsh, rasping croak which she utters at other 

 times. At such moments she seems to be much excited, and induces 

 a corresponding ardour among the surrounding drakes. Sometimes 

 she will dart out her neck and make a dash at the ring of male 

 birds. 



When the drake " bobs," the wings are apparently arched slightly 

 upwards, so that the white secondaries are very prominent, and the 

 tail is elevated at an angle of forty-five degrees, and sometimes, but 

 not always, is widely spread. One drake kept his tail spread during 

 the intervals as well as while in action. Sometimes one male will 

 rush at another with powerful leg strokes, making the water foam 

 about his elevated breast. Occasionally the wings are slightly raised, 

 or both wings and feet are used for propulsion, accompanied by much 

 splashing. A female when pursued will sometimes dive, and is at 

 once followed by the male. No splashing backwards of water by 

 means of the feet as noted by Dr. Townsend in the case of the 

 goldeneye, and by Mr. Brock in that of the goosander, was observed. 

 Dr. Townsend is of opinion that the attitude in which the neck is 

 stretched flat on the surface of the water, with the bill partly immersed, 

 is not a courting action, but, like the search for food with all the head 

 immersed except the crest, is used at all seasons. The momentarily 

 erect position in the water with flapping wings is also common to all 

 seasons, but probably also forms a part of the display, especially when 

 the drake rises with wings closed, as he does at times. 



On the whole the merganser is a very silent bird : the croaking 

 or quacking note of the duck when disturbed is generally uttered in 

 flight, and is described by Macpherson as a sharp " quark," while 

 Naumann writes it as "korrrr," or " gerrr" Besides the breeding-note 

 referred to above, the male hardly ever utters a note. 



