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DIVING-DUCKS. 



THE Diving-ducks form a subdivision of what I have 

 termed the Game-ducks, and are a well-defined and impor- 

 tant little group, embracing several handsome species, and 

 forming a regular (though minor) component in the spoils of 

 the coast-gunner. 



From the nature of their avocations, the Diving- ducks 

 are almost entirely day-feeding fowl, as they require light 

 for their subaqueous investigations. Those which prey on 

 animal- food living Crustacea and other creatures which 

 require catching are exclusively diurnal in their habits ; but 

 one or two species, such as the Pochard, whose food consists 

 of grass and vegetable substances, exhibit nocturnal pro- 

 clivities. In the main, however, the Diving-ducks are of 

 diurnal habits, and are met with during the day, inside the 

 harbours or estuaries ; in short, they occupy by day the 

 situations then vacated by the nocturnal Game-ducks. 



The presence of these fowl " inside " is, in winter, a dis- 

 tinctive feature in the sport of day-punting. The pro- 

 gramme of the wildfowler at that season is practically limited 

 as follows : By night alone is it that he can hope to obtain 

 a fair chance at the Mallard, Wigeon, &c. By day these 

 are all at sea, and beyond his reach, and he has then only 

 left to him the Geese, which, if the winter is mild and open, 

 are pretty well inaccessible. Thus the chance of falling in 

 with a company of Diving- ducks is a contingency that is 

 ever welcome on some days averting the calamity of an 

 empty bag, and at more fortunate times adding a pleasing 

 variety to the sport. 



The most important species of this group of ducks, on 

 the N.E. coast, are the Scaup and the Golden-eye. Both of 



