THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



but, perhaps, only one male Teal amongst a dozen 

 old birds, will exhibit well the exquisite contrast 

 of green, black, and cream yellow over either wing. 

 Such a different aspect does each species present at 

 different periods of its existence, that our earlier 

 naturalists, and even some of our modern ones, have 

 called the same species by different names. Written 

 descriptions do not always convey an exact idea of 

 particular specimens. An illustrated work on birds, 

 if to hand, will save from cook or cat many a valu- 

 able addition to a collection. If shooters who kill 

 scores of wildfowl every winter, would examine 

 their spoils carefully, many additional rare birds 

 and varieties would be recorded. As an instance 

 of this, I may say I have more than once picked 

 out a duck from a friend's bag that had assumed the 

 curled tail feathers and green head of the mallard, 

 which curiosity would otherwise have been over- 

 looked. 



The mallards are usually the first to show, and can 

 be seen alone in small groups in early winter ; the 

 ducks making a later appearance. Among the 

 home breeding birds, the males will desert the 

 females as soon as they have commenced to sit. 

 In summer they may be seen cruising about, and 

 sleeping by themselves far away in open water, 

 instead of hovering near the nest. This habit is 

 a wise provision of nature, for a couple of ducks 

 near a reed-bed or marsh would surely prompt 

 a search, and perhaps subsequent robbery of the 



eggs. 



The diving Ducks, as before stated, seek their 

 food at the bottom, differing in this respect from 



