32 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



get no shot ; or perhaps, just as one may be near 

 doing so, another fowler, lying close by, sees his 

 chance, fires, and spoils the hopes of all the rest. 

 They seldom fire at over twenty paces, and I 

 have known one lucky shooter obtain eighteen 

 Wigeon at one discharge of both barrels. Many 

 of their guns have the end of the barrel blown 

 off, as they often get choked with mud in this night 

 work. 



True Ducks swim high and buoyant on the water 

 at all times, even when followed and alarmed. 

 Diving Ducks, when suspicious or frightened, at 

 once sink the bulk of the body, and so swim away, 

 looking uneasily round meanwhile. Of course both 

 species rise on wing if unduly pressed. 



When a wounded or dead duck is retrieved, it 

 is remarkable how high and dry it floats. If water 

 be sprinkled on the back, it runs off in little drops 

 and streams ; it cannot be made to soak in, or 

 penetrate the plumage. This is by reason of the 

 oil that all waterfowl use when dressing their 

 feathers to keep them pliable and waterproof. 

 They can be seen to refer to this oil-gland every 

 few seconds, when engaged in making their toilet. 

 A few rubs removes this coating, and water will 

 then lie among the plumage and soak to the 

 skin. 



All fowl in heavy rain are subdued, and sit 

 bunched up, looking draggled and miserable. I 

 imagine this oily protection is beaten off, and the 

 fibres of each feather separated by the ceaseless 

 falling drops, though a wave or plash of water from 

 the hand would glide smoothly over their plumage. 



