268 BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



Golden-eyes are wary birds and, while they will come to decoys, 

 the deception must be well-nigh perfect or they will veer off just before 

 coming into gunshot and will not return. They are, ordinarily, second- 

 rate table birds, though upon occasion, when they have been feeding 

 suitably, they compare favourably with the better varieties. Young birds 

 of the first autumn are best; they are generally tender, of good flavour 

 and about on a par with Scaups. 



A morning shoot of Golden-eyes is aptly described by Bent (1925): 

 "At last a black speck is dimly discerned in the distance against a pink 

 cloud; on it comes straight toward the blind, and we recognize it as an 

 old cock Whistler, the advance guard of the morning flight; he circles, 

 sets his wings and scales down over the decoys; in our eagerness we be- 

 tray ourselves by a sudden movement; he sees us and scrambles upward 

 into the air to escape, but it is too late, the guns speak and the first kill 

 is scored. Soon a small flock of five birds comes in, the shrill whistling of 

 their wings sending a thrill of pleasure through our chilled veins; they 

 scale down toward the decoys, but see the blind, wheel, and fly off with- 

 out offering us a shot; they settle in the water away off among the float- 

 ing ice and it is useless to stalk them. We have been too conspicuous to the 

 keen eyes of the birds and must conceal ourselves better; so we pile up 

 more ice around the blind and keep more quiet. Better luck follows in 

 consequence, for the ducks decoy well, if their suspicions are not aroused, 

 and during the next two hours we have good sport. By the time the earlv 

 morning flight is over, an hour or two after sunrise, we have had 

 enough of it and are glad to return home with a small bag of the keen- 

 witted Golden-eyes." 



