320 GOLDEN-EYE DUCK. 
see all the individuals of a flock immersed at once. Sometimes, when 
suddenly surprised, they immediately dive, and do not rise again until 
quite out of gun-shot. When wounded, it is next to impossible to 
catch them; for their power of remaining under water is most surpris- 
ing, and the sooner one gives up the chase the better. 
The Golden-eye Ducks manifest a propensity to adhere to a place 
which they find productive, and that to a most extraordinary degree. 
One day, while approaching the shallow fording-place of Canoe Creek, 
near Henderson, in Kentucky, I observed five Whistlers fishing and 
swimming about. They allowed me to advance to within a few yards 
of the shore, when, swimming close together, and shaking their necks, 
they emitted their rough croaking notes. Not being desirous of shoot- 
ing them, I slapped my hands smartly together, when in an instant 
they all went down, but suddenly rose again, and running as it were 
over the water for about ten yards, took flight, passed and repassed 
several times over the ford, and alighted on the large branches of a 
syeamore that hung over the creek, at no greater distance from where 
I stood than about twenty yards. This was the first time in my life 
that I had seen Golden-eyes alight on a tree.. I waded to the opposite 
side, and gazed upon them with amazement for several minutes. When 
on the eve of pursuing my course, one of them, gliding downwards with 
nearly closed wings, launched upon the water, and at once dived. The 
other four followed one after another, somewhat in the manner of 
Pigeons or Starlings, as if to ascertain whether some danger might not 
still exist. I left them at their avocations, and soon after met a family 
of country people going to Henderson, one of whom asked me respect- 
ing the depth of the ford, to which I replied that the water was low, 
and added that they should be careful lest some ducks that I had left 
there might frighten the horses on which the women were. The good 
folks, with whom I was acquainted, laughed, and we parted. 
About four o’clock, as I was returning, with a fine Turkey-cock 
slung to my back, I met the same party, who told me that, “ sure 
enough,” the ducks were at the ford, and I was likely to have “a good. 
crack at them.” There they were when I went up, and I forced them 
to fly off ; but as I was proceeding, and not more than fifty yards be- 
yond the creek, I heard their splashings as they again alighted. In the 
course of a fortnight I visited the place several times, but never missed 
finding these five ducks there. This led me to inquire as to the cause, 
a eo ee 
