CHAPTER III 



DUCK-SHOOTING (CONTINUED} 



THE SEA-DUCKS 



(Fidigulince) 



NEARLY allied to the river-ducks in most points, 

 a sea-duck can be distinguished always by the 

 membranous lobe on the hind toe. Their feet 

 and palmations are also larger, and their legs 

 set farther back on the body, with the result that 

 their walk is even more of a waddle. In many 

 of their habits they closely resemble the river- 

 ducks, but they are fond of deep water at all 

 seasons of the year, and sometimes occur in flocks 

 containing thousands of individuals. Except in 

 the breeding season, few of them frequent fresh 

 water to any extent, but gather in large beds off 

 the coasts, flying into some bay in the morning to 

 feed, and retiring far from shore at night. They 

 are expert divers, often obtaining their food at great 

 depth, sometimes seeking the bottom even in one 

 hundred and fifty feet of water. Their bodies, 

 however, are so heavy relatively to their wings, 

 that most of them cannot rise from the water 



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