150 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



of fresh water they persistently keep near the middle. 

 If the duck is difficult to come at by the shore- 

 shooter or on land, it is equally puzzling to the 

 puntsman. Instead of paddling away like other 

 ducks when alarmed, it immediately takes wing, 

 and, after having dived, it can shoot from the water 

 without waiting on the surface an instant. This 

 species has also several remarkable characteristics. 

 The members of a flock paddling in the sea are never 

 all immersed at once, one or more always remaining 

 on the surface as sentinels. Another trait is the 

 almost invariable habit of nesting in holes, so that 

 the Laps place darkened boxes by the sides of 

 rivers and lakes for the ducks to lay in. Often as 

 many as a dozen eggs are found, and the nests are 

 lined with the soft down of the ducks. On our 

 coast these ducks feed upon crustaceans and molluscs, 

 and many fishermen know them by the name of 

 " mussel-crackers." " Rat tie wing " is another 

 provincial name, owing to the musical whistle which 

 the bird makes with its wings when flying. Its 

 short rounded wings are ever restless, the shy little 

 duck is ceaselessly swimming, diving, flying never 

 seeming to sleep and never still. 



The pride of plumage of the golden-eye stands it in 

 little stead at table, where it is considered nearly worth- 

 less. An interesting incident which lingers in my 

 own memory had for its subject a pair of male golden- 



