CUERtTtrcK MAESSES. 125 



were flying too fast and too many of thena came -with- 

 in range as it was for me to lose the time necessary 

 for a change. The rain that was falling, although 

 not heavy, interfered, and would hare wet our guns 

 and clothes which were pretty well protected so long 

 as we remained still. So we stayed where we were, 

 and as it was the sport was splendid. The entire 

 mass of widgeons had determined to change their 

 feeding grounds, and that at once, there was no mo- 

 ment when some of them were not visible iu the air, 

 they came from one quarter and flew in one direc- 

 tion. I had learned to whistle for widgeon as well 

 as a professional, and did my best with the aid of 

 William Foster to inveigle them v. i thin range. Very 

 often we were succsssful, and it was an afternoon of 

 excitement. Not a minute passed that we did not 

 have the prospect of a shot, and although the 

 larger flocks mostly kept on their course outside 

 of us, the smaller whisps and the single ones came 

 in freely. 



" Why is it that the birds seem to be all moving 

 at once ?" I asked of William during the first mo- 

 ment of partial leisure that we had, "and why are 

 they all going in the same direction ?" 



" It is a question of food with them," he replied, 

 "as is the case with most other animals. Widgeon 

 can only get their food by reaching down for it, so 

 they must keep where the water is not over their 

 heads ; that is so that they can touch bottom with 

 their bills by tipping up, as you have of ten seen tame 

 ducks do. Now in these shallow marshes a change 



