170 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS. 



effects on the respective birds are both extremely instruc- 

 tive and an interesting complement to tlie pursuit of wild- 

 fowling. 



By nature the Mallard is essentially and absolutely a 

 night-feeding bird (far more so than the Wigeon) ; is almost 

 omnivorous in its taste, but with a partiality for fresh water 

 if easily accessible ; has a strong inclination to rest by day, 

 but careless as to whether it rests ashore or afloat. Well 

 aware of the danger of remaining inside harbour by day, the 

 Mallards, with the Wigeon, take flight from their feeding 

 grounds, as a rule, before a sign of daylight has appeared. 

 Their most favoured resorts for whiliug away the hours of 

 daylight are either (1) on the open sea, opposite their feeding 



grounds if smooth, or, otherwise, some sheltered bay or road- 

 stead along the coast, possibly several miles away; or (2) 

 among the tidal channels and shallow backwaters, formed by 

 the tide, in the sand-bars which inclose most large estuaries, 

 or wildfowl resorts, both in this and other countries. Wigeon 

 seldom care for these latter resorts, or to stop short of the 

 open sea. 



Of course, if there should happen to be in the neighbour- 

 hood of their feeding grounds an inland lake or pool, undis- 

 turbed and of sufficient extent, this would be the grand 

 resort of the Mallard (and Wigeon too) ; but I am now 

 referring exclusively to their habits on the coast. 



The sand-bars above mentioned, being one of the character- 

 istic features of wildfowl resorts, deserve a few words of 



