UPLAND SHOOTING. 303 



Other, that Morillons are not young Golden-eyes, as many sup- 

 pose. This supposition, 1 hare little doubt, arises from the 

 color of the female Golden-eye being pretty much like that of 

 the Morillon. The shape, however, is ditterent, and the size of 

 the female Golden-eye nearly equal to that of the male. I have 

 shot them, right and left when diving together, the female being 

 the most wary of the two. The Morillon may be in the same 

 flock, as different kinds of divers often are ; but there is not 

 halftlu' caution required to get a shot at him, and, when com- 

 pared, he is much rounder in shape and one-third smaller in 

 size. It may be said, 'and why should not tliis ])e the young 

 of the same species V I answer, ' that the young males of all 

 the Duck tribe that breed in this country, from the Mallard to 

 the Teal, gain their bright feathers the first moulting, after 

 which the young males are at least equal in size to the females ; 

 but my chief reason I have already given, if the INIorillon is the 

 young bird, why should he reverse the usual order of things, 

 and be less tender and delicate than his parents V 



" When several are diving together, you must get as near as 

 possible without alarming them ; and, selecting a couple who 

 dive at the same moment, hoot away the others, who will be 

 far out of reach before their companions come up. They will 

 probably never miss them until they have taken two or three 

 dives, thus giving you an opportunity of getting the shot; ot 

 which you would have had a much worse chance while they 

 were together. 



" In recommending this, be it observed, I am supposing- the 

 ground of difficult access ; when favorable, even a novice should 

 be able to get within a run of any number of fowl, without 

 being seen by the most wary of the flock, and can then make 

 his selection. For my own part, I hardly ever adopt this plan, 

 but where the ground is bare and open, an unpractised wild- 

 fowl shooter would stand no chance otherwise. 



" When the flock is large, it always puzzles a beginner to 

 ascertain the length of time they are under water, in order to 

 know what time he may safely allow for his last run, which in 



