WILD DUCKS AND DUCK DECOYING 145 



beds in Norfolk, though the great majority seek their 

 northern breeding-grounds. Blue- winged teal is a 

 name given to this prettily-marked species, which to 

 those who know its congener is fairly descriptive. 



The last of the surface-feeding ducks is the pintail, 

 and if this is also described as handsome it is because 

 there are but few of the wild ducks which are not. 

 It is one of the most graceful too, and, owing to the 

 long central tail feathers of the male, is sometimes 

 called the sea-pheasant. Although often obtained 

 by fowlers along the coast, it is also found on inland 

 decoys, and feeds upon aquatic plants, insect 

 larvae and molluscs. Its flesh is next in delicacy 

 to that of the teal, and is held in estimation at table. 

 It is much more rare in the northern than in the 

 southern counties, and off the coast of Cornwall 

 thirty-seven birds have been bagged at one shot. 

 The pintail breeds but rarely in England. 



II 



DIVING DUCKS 



WE now come to the diving ducks. Speaking 

 generally, the "surface" ducks haunt fresh water; 

 diving ducks the sea. The most prominent of these 

 are the scaup, common, velvet and surf scoters, 

 the pochard, golden-eye and tufted duck. 



