LETTER XXI. 151 



flock riding at anchor a little way out to sea, waiting the turn of 

 the tide, a long streak, blackening the water for a quarter of a 

 mile, it is not impossible but that, with good management and 

 better luck, one may get a chance ; by drifting, or very gently 

 paddling, one might get within cartridge range before they rise. 

 When the rolling noise, like distant thunder, announces "they 

 are up," boat your oars and handle your gun, and it's hard but 

 one section of the great mass pass within shot. Sometimes, while 

 wheeling about, a second chance may be had before the whole of 

 the scattered flocks form into a dense column, and stream away 

 right in the wind's eye, the old birds whistling and " whewing " 

 their commands as they regulate the order of their going. 



On the 13th February (St Valentine's Eve) I observed the 

 Widgeon were beginning to pair. Several loving couples appar- 

 ently all in all to one another, had separated from the flock. 

 It was almost the first bright mild day of the season ; the water 

 was like glass. I followed one couple for a considerable distance. 

 The duck seemed very loath to fly ; but as I approached, the 

 drake, who shone resplendent to the sun in full pride of plumage, 

 became fidgety, nodding his head and sailing round his mate, 

 apparently urging her to fly with him. At last, unable to stand 

 it any longer, he fairly spread his wings, and flapping the stilly 

 surface of the water into rings, rose and was off : but, no ! finding 

 his mate did not accompany him, down he dropped again into the 

 water some twenty yards off. I made a circuit after him to avoid 

 starting the duck ; as I paddled within fifty yards of that 

 unreasonable female, she remained obstinately still, not moving a 

 feather; apparently she fancied that she so escaped detection, 



