146 WILD SPORTS OP THE HIGHLANDS CMAf. 



all is safe, she calls forth her offspring again, to feed and sport 

 in the open water. 



The young birds do not fly till they are quite full grown. 

 I have observed that, as soon as ever the inner side of the wing 

 is fully clothed, they take, to flying ; their bones, which before 

 this time were more like gristle than anything else, quickly 

 hardening, and giving the bird full power and use of its pinions. 

 The old bird then leads them forth at night to the most distant 

 feeding-places, either to the grass meadows where they search 

 for snails or worms, or to the splashy swamps, where they dabble 

 about all night, collecting the different insects and young frogs 

 that abound in these places. As the corn ripens, they fly to 

 the oat-fields in the dusk of the evening, preferring this grain 

 and peas to any other. They are now in good order and easily 

 shot, as they come regularly to the same fields every night. 

 As soon as they have satisfied their hunger, they go to some 

 favourite pool, where they drink and wash themselves. After 

 this, they repair, before dawn, to their resting-place for the day, 

 generally some large piece of water, where they can float quietly 

 out of reach of all danger. In October, the drakes have acquired 

 their splendid plumage, which they cast off in the spring, at 

 that time changing their gay feathers for a more sombre brown, 

 resembling the plumage of the female bird, but darker. During 

 the time that they are clothed in this grave dress, the drakes 

 keep in flocks together, and show themselves but little, appearing 

 to keep as much out of observation as possible. During the 

 actual time of their spring moulting, the drakes are for some 

 days so helpless that I have frequently seen a dog catch them. 

 The same thing occurs with the few wild geese that breed in 

 the north of Scotland. With regard to shooting wild ducks, 

 I am no advocate or follower of the punt and swivel system. 

 I can see little amusement in taking a long shot at the somid 

 of feeding water-fowl, killing and maiming you know not what ; 

 nor am I addicted to punting myself in a flat boat over half- 

 frozen mud, and waiting for hours together for the chance of a 

 sweeping shot. There may be great sport in this kind of pro- 

 ceeding, but I cannot discover it. I much prefer the more 

 active and independent amusement of taking my chance with 

 a common gun, meeting the birds on their way to and from 

 their feeding or resting places, and observing and taking 



