ISO IVILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap, 



do they dive. They swim in with the flowing tide, frequently 

 following the course of the water to some little distance from 

 the mouth of the river. When I see them in the heavy surf 

 on the main shore, they seem quite at their ease, floating high 

 in the water, and diving into the midst of the wildest waves. 

 When put up, they seldom fly far, keeping low, and suddenly 

 dropping into the water again, where they seem more at their 

 ease than in the air. When I have shot one of these birds, its 

 mate (whether the duck or the drake is the survivor) returns 

 frequently to the spot, flyimg round and round, and uttering a 

 plaintive call. 



On the open part of the coast they are often seen in company 

 with the velvet duck. The latter very seldom comes into the 

 bay, but keeps without the bar, quite regardless of storm or 

 wind. It is a fine handsome bird, though of a rather heavy 

 make. When flying, they have very much the appearance of 

 a blackcock, having the same white mark on the wing, and 

 being black in all other parts of their plumage. It is not diffi- 

 cult to approach these birds in a boat, but as they are not fit 

 to eat, they are not much sought after. They are excellent 

 divers, and must be shot dead, or they generally escape. 



The golden-eye, Anas clangula, and the morillon are common 

 about the mouth of the river and burns. I have often heard it 

 argued that these two birds are merely the same species iti dif- 

 ferent degrees of maturity ; but I do not consider that there is 

 the least doubt as to their being quite distinct. I have fre- 

 quently shot what I suppose to be the young golden-eye not 

 arrived at its full plumage ; but in these the white spot at the 

 corner of the mouth is more or less visible. The birds are 

 larger than the morillon, besides which the golden-eye, in what- 

 ever stage of maturity it is found, always makes that peculiar 

 noise with its wings, when flying, which is not heard in the flight 

 of the morillon, or of any other kind of duck. I remember, too, 

 once watching a pair of morillons in a Highland loch, late in 

 the spring ; they had evidently paired, and were come to the 

 age of maturity, and ready for breeding. 



The golden-eye dives well, remaining a considerable time 

 under water seeking its food, which consists of the small shell-fish 

 which it finds at the bottom. The morillon frequents the same 

 places as the golden-eye, but always remains singly or in pairs. 



