294 BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



ducks was seen feeding, a landing was made and the beach approached 

 from the land, the hunter being careful not to be seen. By watching the 

 flock it would be seen that they all dived about the same time, and the 

 time they remained down was about the same length each time. When 

 the last duck dives, the hunter runs toward them, dropping in the 

 grass or behind a rock about the time he calculates the first duck should 

 be coming up again. In this manner he can approach close to the flock, 

 that nearly always feed in the shallow water along the shore. When the 

 last run is made, the hunter, if an old hand, stands on the edge of the 

 water, the gun at 'ready,' and a couple of extra shells in the hollow of 

 his right hand, the flock all being down. The first duck that comes up 

 gets it, and the second one gets the second barrel, and in this way, by 

 sharp practice, it is often possible to bag six or seven out of one flock." 



The same writer says that in courtship, "the actions of these birds 

 may justly be said to resemble the crowing of a rooster. In giving forth 

 their call the head is thrown far back with the bill pointed directly up- 

 ward and widely open; then with a jerk the head is thrown forward 

 and downward as the cry is uttered, and at the same time the wings 

 are slightly expanded and drooped. Afterwards they will rise in the 

 water and flap their wings." They bob and bow to one another, swirl 

 around, touch their bills together and utter little chatty sounds. 



The nests of this species are built either on the ground or in holes 

 in trees or cliffs, and the eggs are similar to those of the Eastern variety, 

 averaging 2.30 by 1.62 inches. As soon as the eggs are laid the males 

 desert the females and gather in flocks by themselves on the sea coasts 

 where they moult into the eclipse plumage and become flightless for a 

 while; flocks of these "flappers" are often mistaken for broods of young 

 birds which have not yet learned to fly. 



The migrations in spring and autumn are merely withdrawals from 

 winter grounds to summer breeding places not far distant, or vice versa. 

 The food and feeding habits of the species are described in the "Life 

 Story" of the Eastern Harlequin Duck. 



