Massing of Wildfowl 379 



the earth. Then in a moment, as by word of command, silence, 

 sudden and impressive, reigns where just before that torrential 

 babel had raged. Such, now, is the stilly silence that by com- 

 parison the pipe of a passing redshank sounds well-nigh scandalous ! 

 A few seconds pass. Then, dominated by a single impulse, the 

 concentrated mass on our front rises simultaneously on wing. 

 The spell of silence is broken ; the roar of pinions reverberates 

 far and wide. They're ofl" — bound for Siberia ! 



Yet unpeiplexed as though one spirit swayed 

 Their indefatigable flight. 



Holding the same massed formation, the fowl in three or 

 four broadening circles quickly attain a considerable altitude — 

 say 100 yards — and then head away on their course, ALWAYS 

 (so far as they remain visible) to the ,S'(9 [/jf7/-^^67'— diametri- 

 cally opposite to the direction one would expect. As in deepen- 

 ing darkness we set forth on our homeward voyage, the heaven 

 above pulsates at intervals with the beating of wings as yet more 

 north-bound corros pass overhead. 



Certain notable facts are observable in this vernal exodus. 

 For upwards of twelve hours prior to departure the outgoing 

 fowl take no food. That period is devoted exclusively to 

 preparation and overhaul, and to pairing. Plumage is preened 

 and dressed till each unit is spick and span, speckless, and not 

 a feather misplaced. All, moreover, are absolutely empty — in 

 best and liohtest travelliuo; trim. 



When ducks are acorrados — that is, formed into corros 

 (the term is used thus in verb-form) — their normal watchfulness 

 is relaxed. All thought and energy are concentrated on the im- 

 pending event. Hence, at these periods they are apt to fall an 

 easier prey to the fowler and on wholesale lines. The native 

 gunners with their trained ca6res^o-ponies sometimes unite and 

 enormous totals are secured as the result of a single joint broad- 

 side. The fowl thus obtained afford proof of the facts just stated, 

 being all absolutely empty ; besides which many different species 

 will be killed at the one shot.' These men also state that the 

 ducks start already paired and flying side by side ; this, they say, 

 explains the ferment and commotion of the previous hours — 



1 Corros usually consist (especially the earlier assemblies) of one root-species— others 

 merely "edge in." The later con-os, however, are much mixed. They vary in numbers: 

 one may contain but 200 pairs, another within half-a-mile a.s many thousands. 



