264 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



creasing light, the open water at our side was chosen 

 for their resting-place. Down they would come on 

 the water, almost imperilling our heads, with the rust- 

 ling sound of the eagle in the act of swooping upon 

 his prey, while some of their companions, less certain 

 of the security of this halting-place, would sweep 

 round and round our locale before the}'' finally selected 

 it. As soon as the hirds struck the water they would 

 commence bathing themselves, flapping their bodies 

 with their wings, diving with short plunges, and cut- 

 ting so many capers that one might imagine them 

 stark, staring mad. The fact, however, is, that all 

 this apparent eccentricity is caused by the necessity 

 the ducks feel of cleaning themselves of the insects 

 about their plumage, as well as the pleasure they 

 expsrience in finding themselves again in a milder 

 climate, with abundance of food around them, after 

 enduring a hard journey from the stormy North, 

 protracted possibly through a day and night. On 

 arrival, therefore, they wash themselves and arrange 

 their dress before commencing their meal an ex- 

 ample other travellers would do well to imitate. But, 

 as the night advanced, some strangers are mixed with 

 the throng. The dusky duck, the bald pate, the pin- 

 tail, the blue and green winged teal, shoot past like 

 arrows from a bow, the latter making, with the rapid 

 motion of their wings, a sound not unlike an un- 

 greased wheel or hinge. When the travellers are 

 satisfied with the neighbourhood, they dash down upon 

 the water, causing it to fly in spray for yards around, 

 while the first arrivals welcome the new-comers with 

 innumerable quacks. The report of a gun then will 

 scarcely alarm them, and, if they should rise, in a. 



