20 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



bright globules of air behind them, which gradually 

 lessen in number, and just as they seem to diminish 

 completely, up pops the bird ; then, if alarmed, it dives 

 again at once, and no bubbles appear. But if the 

 Diver be allowed a few seconds' rest, and then disap- 

 pears of its own accord, the bubbles again appear in 

 streaks and streamers after it, seeming to arise from 

 every part of the body. From this I conclude that 

 all Divers, more or less according to their aquatic 

 powers, are enabled to retain or eject air at will 

 to assist them in their pursuit of food. A Diver 

 full of air, even with wing action would find trouble 

 in reaching the bottom and remaining there, and 

 for that reason probably ejects air in the action 

 of diving. On the other hand, when all air is dis- 

 persed from body and feathers, he would be heavy, 

 and not so well able to rise or fly through the 

 water. It is this power of ejecting air that must 

 permit Divers to swim with bodies submerged, as 

 most of them will do when alarmed. 



As regards the edible excellence of various wild- 

 fowl, of all the Ducks we are familiar with in these 

 islands, none equal the Pintail for delicacy of 

 flavour. Shovellers, if shot on fresh water, I would 

 place second ; they are always in good condition, 

 and I have seen fat on a Shoveller fully an inch 

 thick ; but their occurrence, though not very un- 

 common, is almost too much so to demand attention 

 as a dainty from any but an " epicure." Teal are 

 next in repute, and, curious to say, are just as good 

 whether procured on salt or fresh waters. 



Then comes the Wild Duck, of which the mallard 

 is least esteemed, as being the coarser flavoured of 



