owaP. xvi.) LONG-TAILED DUCK—VELVET DUCK. 131 
on our coast—the long-tailed duck, Anas glacialis. Its move- 
ments and actions are peculiarly graceful and amusing, while its 
musical cry is quite unlike that of any other bird, unless a slight 
resemblance to the trumpeting of the wild swan may be traced 
in it. Lying concealed on the shore, I have often watched these 
birds, as they swim along in small companies within twenty 
yards of me; the drake, with his gay plumage, playing quaint 
antics round the more sad-coloured female—sometimes jerking 
himself half out of the water, at others diving under her, and 
coming up on the other side. Sometimes, by a common impulse, 
they all set off swimming in a circle after each other with great 
rapidity, and uttering their curious cry, which is peculiarly wild 
and pleasing. When feeding, these birds dive constantly, remain- 
ing under water for a considerable time. Turning up their tails, 
they dip under with a curious kind of motion, one after the other, 
till the whole flock is under water. They are not nearly so wild or 
shy as many other kinds of wild-fowl, and are easily shot, though 
if only winged it is almost impossible to catch them, even with the 
best retriever, so quickly 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, flying 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 black 
cock, having the same white mark on the wing, and being black 
in all other parts of their plumage. It is not difficult to ap- 
proach 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. 
K2 
