WILD DUCKS, 295 
about a dog when he is employed in toling, as that in- 
creases his efficiency, by making the birds more inquisi- 
tive. These ducks assemble in large flocks during the 
autumn, and mingle freely with all their congeners on the 
feeding grounds, but, when flying, they generally keep by 
themselves. They move ata regular rate of speed, and 
closely grouped, when on the wing, and this, as in the 
case of the other species having the same habit, enables 
aman to bring down ten or fifteen at a time with both 
barrels. They decoy in gallant style, and when fired at 
they often merely flutter upwards for a few feet, then 
alight again, as if they were most anxious to renew the ac- 
quaintance of their wooden images. They even wheel 
about while hastening away on hearing their own peculiar 
mewing call, and give the fowler another opportunity of 
lessening their numbers, especially if the decoys are in 
sight. They are almost as expert at diving and swim- 
ming as the canvas-backs. When wounded, they some- 
times plunge under the water, and taking hold of an 
aquatic plant, cling to it until they die. 
The greater scaup duck (fuligula marila), which is 
known by several aliases, such as the flocking fowl, 
broad-bill, blue-bill, big black-head, and raft duck, is 
one of the most abundant species of the sea ducks, being 
found from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Its bill, 
which is as long as the head, is a light-grayish-blue in 
color, the unguis being blackish; the iris is red; the 
feet are grayish-blue, and the webs and claws black;. the 
head, neck, and forepart.of the back and breast are 
black; the head and neck are glossed with purple and 
green; the hinder part of the back, the rump, abdomen, 
and upper and lower tail-coverts are dusky; and the an- 
terior part of the belly and sides are grayish-white, 
marked with waved lines of black. The center of the 
breast is white; the wings are a light-brownish-gray; and 
the secondaries brownish-black. It attains a length of 
