206 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



They both took wing on being fired at ; the second barrel, 

 however, brought down one of them. While the little 

 dingy lay to, for me to reload my gun, the wounded 

 bird was rejoined by its companion ; another shot was 

 fired at the latter without success, when the former dived, 

 and although we remained quiet on the spot where it dis- 

 appeared, and kept a bright look out all around for nearly 

 a quarter of an hour, not a feather became visible. The 

 water was perfectly clear with a slight ripple on the surface, 

 and the nearest land three or four hundred yards distant. 

 This is an instance of the extraordinary power possessed 

 by some birds of submerging themselves at pleasure. I 

 have particularly observed it in the common Dobchick of 

 England, and in the Canada Goose (Anser canadensis), but 

 by what means a body so much lighter than an equal bulk 

 of water, can be made to remain below the surface of that 

 fluid, I am at a loss to understand. When submerged these 

 birds lie perfectly quiet with outstretched neck and keep a 

 nostril (perhaps both) in communication with the surface 

 to obtain a supply of air ? In the present instance I lost 

 the Duck, which was evidently winged, and which I am 

 disposed to think was either a Scaup or a Ring-neck. 



December 23rd. — Mr. C. Fozard, who watched me while 

 in pursuit of the Sea Ducks on the 21st with an excellent 

 telescope, informed me to-day, that soon after I quitted 

 the spot where the Duck disappeared, the bird again made 

 its appearance, swimming about on the surface of the 

 water. Mr. Fozard then went for his gun, and got a 

 man to skull him off to that part of the harbour. The 

 wounded bird dived before he got within shot of it, appear- 

 ing again at a little distance ; a second time it dived on the 

 approach of the boat, appearing as before ; but finding the 



