176 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS. 



shot. Mallard and Wigeon (but never Teal) will sometimes 

 give notice of their intention to spring by heading the wind 

 and raising their heads. Of course, on such timely intima- 

 tion the charge is despatched at once. But, in default of 

 any such notice, it is no easy matter to correctly judge the 

 distance while lying flat, and to seize the precise moment for 

 placing the shot to best advantage. The middle course is, 

 however, the safest, namely, to fire as soon as ever the forms 

 of the fowl are distinctly distinguishable say, between sixty 

 and seventy yards, at which distance the pearly grey backs 

 of the Mallards, and the white wing-patches of the old 

 Wigeon drakes, as they sit up to flap their wings, can be 

 clearly seen. 



To return to the subject of the habits of the Ducks. In 

 the absence of any such favourite diurnal resort as I have, 

 perhaps somewhat lovingly, dilated upon, the bulk of both 

 Mallard and Wigeon pass the day on the open sea, where the 

 two species associate freely. Even at sea, Ducks usually 

 have a distinct predilection in favour of some particular spot, 

 to which they yearly resort, winter after winter. This is 

 generally under the shelter of some point or headland, or, 

 in the. absence of these, of a reef of rock which affords some 

 protection from the sea, where they prefer to sit close outside 

 the line of the breakers. Hence, as the main bodies of Duck 

 seldom enter harbour before dark, and leave it again before 

 daybreak, and as on the sea they sit further in- shore than 

 boats usually care to go, they are easily overlooked by those 

 not acquainted with their habits. I remember an inland 

 sportsman, inexperienced in the ways of Ducks, spending a 

 whole week on the coast, literally almost within sight of 

 thousands of them (Mallard and Wigeon mixed), and yet 

 declare on his return that there " was not a Duck on the 

 coast." 



With regard to migration, both Mallard and Wigeon 

 begin to arrive in this country in September. The Wigeon 

 are the first to appear, their vanguard often reaching our 

 coast during the first or second week of September. Towards 

 the latter part of the month these are followed by small de- 

 tachments of Mallard, and from that date onwards constant 



