CHAPTER IX 



SCAUP. CURRES AND SHORT-WINGED FOWL 



THE word " curre " specifies a class of ducks which is not 

 covered by any scientific or ornithological term, and therefore 

 it should not be allowed to lapse. 



The word seems to have been handed down by the gunners 

 of the old school, and it embraces that species of wildfowl 

 which obtains its food from the bottom of fairly deep water 

 by diving : whereas the more commonly-known and generally- 

 termed " surface feeders " include " long- winged f owV or such 

 as do not feed in deeper water but where they can reach the 

 bottom by (what is called) standing on their heads, or by very 

 short dives. 



Nature has provided " curres " with shorter wings, greater 

 paddling power, and different corporeal formation ; perhaps it 

 is on this account that they seldom visit the land, but obtain 

 their requisite amount of sleep, and perform their toilet, 

 always afloat. It is not therefore a very difficult task to 

 prove that their habits are quite distinct from the long- winged 

 species, which are more esteemed for the table, by reason of 

 their vegetarian diet, whereas, on the other hand, the food of 

 most of the " curre " species consists chiefly of shell fish and 

 other molusca. 



