HABITS OF WILDFOWL. 15 



of October. To see them floating with bills tucked 

 in, on rough water, is good evidence it will continue 

 rough for some time. After wild weather they will 

 also rest, but not till they have fed well, unless they 

 are conscious of a yet more furious tempest. 



If Ducks on being fired at fly but a short distance, 

 and then settle down again as placidly as ever, it is 

 not that they are heavy and sluggish after feeding ; 

 this would never cause them to lose their usual 

 caution : a violent disturbance of weather is surely 

 approaching. Ducks, in fact, desert the lakes for 

 the tide-way the very day the water may happen 

 to freeze. Not only can they not rest and sleep on 

 ice with comfort, but, what is more, they are unable 

 to wash, drink, or keep their bodies warm, unless 

 water is available. They will fly from their feeding 

 grounds as usual to the inland waters (frozen during 

 their absence) at early dawn, and I have seen them 

 circle round as if in surprise, and then point off in a 

 body for the distant tide. Ducks seldom alight on 

 ice, but will be seen to sweep low across the surface 

 with hanging feet as though hesitating. Teal now 

 and then will do so, and I have shot them thus with 

 the webs of the feet so stiff and frozen, that they 

 could not be closed till warmed by the hand. Both 

 Duck and Teal essentially frequent inland haunts, 

 and do not visit the tide-way in numbers until obliged 

 by weather to do so, differing in this respect from 

 Wigeon. Pochard, and Tufted Duck, on revisiting 

 their favourite pools and meres after passing the night 

 on the estuaries and salt marshes, will now and again 

 plump heavily down on the ice in the glimmer of 

 dawn, unconscious of their error. I have heard them 



