591 



assured that it was found at the Boca del Rio Grande in winter, and I received the skin of a 

 drake from Fort Stockton, in Texas. 



The present species is by no means shy in its habits ; and during the two seasons I spent on 

 the shores of New Brunswick I had ample opportunities of watching it, and shot quite a number 

 of specimens. Usually they were seen in small flocks of from four to a dozen individuals, seldom 

 in large parties or singly ; and the best places to find them were small quiet coves or sheltered 

 spots close inshore. Though not shy, still the Dipper (as the fishermen and gunners in New 

 Brunswick call this Duck) is perfectly well able to take care of itself, and is well aware of the 

 range of an ordinary fowling-piece. I carried a light gun, with which, by using a wire cartridge, 

 I could kill at very long distances ; and this evidently puzzled them at first ; but they soon seemed 

 to make ample allowance by keeping further out. The rapidity with which this Duck can dive 

 is astonishing ; and unless one is used to firing at them, one can seldom kill them. The Indians 

 believe that they bear a charmed life, and call them the " Spirit Duck ;" and I can well believe 

 that it is next to impossible to kill them with a flint-gun or an arrow ; but with a percussion-gun 

 I found no difficulty in so doing. My usual mode was to stalk them when they were diving 

 within range of the shore ; and when all the flock were under water I would run close to the 

 edge and, watching keenly, would fire the moment the water broke as they reappeared — and 

 generally got two or three, often astonishing them so much that they would fly off instead of 

 diving and thus give me another chance. I well recollect astonishing a lot of these and other 

 Ducks, and myself also, in a manner I little expected. One bitter cold day, when the frost was 

 so intense that the receding tide left the rocks covered with a hard glassy coating of ice, I was 

 walking along the top of the rocks overhanging the Bay of Fundy. Seeing some Ducks rather 

 close inshore some distance ahead, I walked round to the place and crawled cautiously to the edge 

 of the rock to see where they were. I had got to the very edge when I discovered them right 

 under me ; and as I tried to get back unobserved I put my foot on a piece of ice, and in a second 

 went over into the water amongst the Ducks, scaring them worse than I myself was scared. Fortu- 

 nately I kept hold of my gun, and, though the sea was by no means smooth, I swam round and was 

 soon out. But I shall never forget my walk to the nearest pilot's house, a distance of about two 

 miles ; for before I had gone far my clothes froze, and when I arrived there I felt as if in a suit 

 of case-armour. It was no easy task to divest myself of my garments ; but after being well-rubbed 

 down and treated to a good strong dose of that universal sportsman's remedy, whisky, I was as 

 right as ever, and went out for another turn in the afternoon. 



During the entire winter, even in the coldest weather, I used to find this Duck common on 

 the shores of the Bay of Fundy ; and certainly the male is one of the handsomest and most elegant 

 of the marine Ducks. When swimming it looks very round, the feathers being rather puffed 

 out, the neck drawn in, and the long feathers on the head puffed out till the head looked like a 

 richly coloured puff-ball. I have never had an opportunity of watching them during the breeding- 

 season ; for at the approach of spring they disappeared ; and I never knew of any remaining there 

 to breed, though, as Dr. Brewer below states, it is said to breed in New Brunswick. On the 

 wing this bird is swift, and its flight is direct; but, as a rule, they were generally seen on the 

 water, and trusted for security more to their extreme facility in diving than to their wings. I 

 never recollect to have heard them utter any note,- except one somewhat resembling that of the 



