THE ADVANCE GUAED. 273 



bad been stationary many minutes a few stragglers made 

 their appearance, the advance guard, doubtless, of the main 

 body ; some old and experienced veterans, I should think, 

 are generally chosen for this duty, as these forerunners are 

 wary in the extreme, and seldom or ever come within gun- 

 shot. However, we were not detained idle, a bunch of 

 mallard passed within range, and a salute welcomed their 

 visit ; another and another party rapidly followed, in such 

 quick succession that it was impossible to shoot at all. 

 These birds, so far, had only flown past, and as night 

 approached their numbers increased, and we being pro- 

 bably less conspicuous from decreasing light, the open 

 water at our side was chosen for their resting-place. Down 

 they would come on the water, almost imperilling our 

 heads, with the rustling sound of the eagle in the act of 

 swooping upon his prey, while some of their companions, 

 less certain of the security of this halting-place, would 

 sweep round and round our locale before they finally 

 selected it. As soon as the birds struck the water they 

 would commence bathing themselves, flapping their bodies 

 with their wings, diving with short plunges, and cutting so 

 many capers that one might imagine them stark, staring 

 mad. The fact, however, is, that all this apparent eccen- 

 tricity is caused by the necessity the ducks feel of cleaning 

 themselves of the insects about their plumage, as well as 

 the pleasure they experience in finding themselves again 

 iu a milder climate, with abundance of food around them, 

 after enduring a hard journey from the stormy North, 

 protracted possibly through a day and night. On arrival, 

 therefore, they wash themselves and arrange their dress 



18 



