MIDNIGHT ON THE OOZES. 189 



Presently there rings out through the darkness a loud, harsh 

 note a long-drawn, reverberating bark. That, too, he 

 knows well ; it is the call of the female Sheld-Duck she, like 

 the Mallard, being far more vociferous than her consort. 

 Sometimes she winds up with half a dozen distinct quacks. 

 The note of the drake is quite different the peculiar, sibi- 

 lant noise, half-squeak, half- whistle, before alluded to 

 usually quite low and gentle, but at times sharp and ringing. 

 It is curious that the beak of the Sheld-Duck is tightly closed 

 while the note is being uttered : the bird sometimes appears 

 to be busy feeding at the very moment. Wigeon-drakes, on 

 the other hand, open their beaks wide before commencing 

 their pretty pipe, and close it during the note. Teal ducks 

 quack not unlike Mallard, but lower, more hurriedly, and 

 less denned, and these drakes also have a sibilant note. 

 The young Teal when in packs in autumn keep up a constant 

 low clucking chatter. Scaup appear silent I never heard 

 them speak and Golden-eyes rarely, though they have a 

 low, hoarse quack. 



Noisiest of all his noisy race is the Curlew, the official 

 sentinel of the wastes. His lung-power is simply terrific, 

 and the vociferations of half a dozen, suddenly springing 

 from a creek close by, fairly outrage the decencies of night, 

 and spread an alarm for miles. I was amused to-night by 

 overhearing my companion angrily muttering to himself that 

 their conduct was " parfectly scandalous ! " On a still, calm 

 night such as this we could also distinctly hear the croaks 

 and gabbling of the geese, sitting, full two miles away, on 

 the open sea. 



It was nearly 3 A.M. before the rising tide sufficiently 

 covered the flats, and the chance we had awaited arrived. 

 A mile or so beyond the spot where they had been feeding 

 we came upon the now united assemblage of ducks, resting 

 on the water of a sequestered little bay. By their notes we 

 had little difficulty in making out their position, and pre- 

 sently drew up within sight of a fine flotilla under the rays 

 of the moon. This was the critical moment. The slightest 

 noise of man, boat, or gear let an oar creak, or the setting- 

 pole strike on a stone and they are gone. No such ill-luck, 



