476 HABITS. 



each other. Some of the number are always diving, and as 

 these remain long under water, and their comrades are going 

 rapidly ahead in the while, they are of course a good way 

 behind the rest on their reappearance at the surface. Imme- 

 diately on coming up, therefore, they take wing, and flying 

 over the backs of their comrades, resume their position in 

 the ranks, or rather fly somewhat beyond their fellows, 

 with the object, as it would seem, of being the foremost of 

 the party. This frequently continues across the bay, or inlet, 

 until the flock is "brought up" by the opposing shore, 

 when they generally all take wing and move off elsewhere. 

 There is but little doubt that they are feeding at these times, 

 which is the more probable from the water where they 

 disport themselves being usually shallow, and the bottom 

 studded with rocks; from whence they pluck cockles, 

 periwinkles, &c., which constitute the principal part of their 

 sustenance. " Fair play is a jewel," says the old saw, and 

 so perhaps thinks the hareld ; for it would really appear 

 as if it adopted the somewhat curious manoeuvre just men- 

 tioned, to prevent its companions from going over the 

 ground previously. 



Whilst pairing which takes place in the beginning of 

 April and long before its departure for the far north, 

 the hareld is very noisy and clamorous. The males are 

 constantly chasing the females, in which while they them- 

 selves are pursued by numerous rivals. " It has been 

 remarked," says Ekstrom, " that certain of the females are 

 much more courted than the rest a practice at one time 

 supposed to be confined to the human species. Frequently, 

 indeed, one sees an individual surrounded by from six to 

 eight amorous males, the rest of the females looking on 



