SEA-DUCKS. 229 



as they fly to windward but still it is a very pretty one, and 

 affords some exciting moments. 



The behaviour of all the sea-ducks when approached by a 

 boat is usually the same, i.e., they rise wide, but may now 

 and then, under favourable conditions and in a steady breeze, 

 be cut out as described. No duck of any sort whatever 

 would ever dream of attempting to escape by diving. I have 

 been told that the Long-tails occasionally do so ; but I never 

 saw any approach to it myself, and fancy that in such cases 

 either the birds had not realized the presence of danger and 

 were simply diving for food, or that Grebes, Tysties, or other 

 birds had been mistaken for ducks. It may be that the 

 Long-tails will, under certain circumstances, attempt that 

 means of evading pursuit, but such conduct certainly 

 appears to me very improbable and entirely foreign to what 

 I have observed of their natural disposition. What Mr. 

 Folkard is referring to (and ' Wild-fowler ' copies his mis- 

 takes) when he describes the duck-tribe (and especially such 

 species as Shoveller and Sheld-Duck, which are strictly sur- 

 face-ducks) as habitually resorting to diving as a means of 

 escape from danger, is quite incomprehensible but so, I 

 must add, are many statements in both those books. Mr. 

 Folkard speaks of chasing Shovellers about with a rowing 

 boat (p. 260) : as well, in truth, might their pursuit be 

 essayed with a four-in-hand ! 



Although, however, the sea-ducks invariably use their 

 wings in preference to their legs in order to keep clear of 

 danger, yet, when ivinged, so proficient are they at diving, 

 that it is all but hopeless to attempt to capture them. Half 

 a dozen Scaup, Scoter, or Long-tails may fall to a shot, but, 

 except the dead, not one will ever be seen again save by a 

 mere chance. They appear to dive straight as they fall, and 

 nothing more than the point of a bill will again appear above 

 water till danger is past. Winged Eiders, as a rule, can be 

 followed up and occasionally secured if the sea is quite 

 smooth. They have hardly the same power of holding 

 themselves just under the surface, and, being so large, are 

 more easily seen when they reappear. They rely on the im- 

 mense distances they can traverse under water, and generally 



