THE SCAUP DUCK. 317 



tween Louisville and Shippingport, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio, the 

 shores are from ten to fifteen feet high, and rather abrupt when the waters 

 are at their ordinary level. The Scaup Ducks are fond of diving for food 

 along this place, and there, by coming directly upon them unseen, till you 

 are almost over them, you may have the very best opportunities of procur- 

 ing them. They are not worth shooting, however, unless for sport or ex- 

 amination, for their flesh is generally tough and rather fishy in flavour. In- 

 deed I know none, excepting what is called an Epicure, who could relish a 

 Scaup Duck. 



They appear to experience some difficulty in getting on wing, and assist 

 themselves on all occasions, either by meeting the current or fronting the 

 wind, while they also use their broad feet as helps. When danger is near, 

 they frequently, however, prefer diving, which they find as effectual a means 

 of security as flying. As they usually feed at some distance from each 

 other, it is amusing to see them go off, as they emerge from the water in 

 succession, and to watch them when they collect again, and when, after fly- 

 ing for a long time in circles, now high then low over the water, they all 

 realight. These habits, and the toughness of their sinewy bodies, render it 

 rather difficult to shoot them. Although flat-billed, they dive to a consider- 

 able depth, and when they have reached the bottom, no doubt furrow the 

 mud, in the manner of the Shoveller {Anas clypeata), although the latter 

 performs this action while floating on the surface, with its head and neck 

 alone submersed, as it swims over the shallows. 



The food of the Scaup Duck I have found to consist of small fry, cray- 

 fishes, and a mixture of such grasses as here and there grow along the beds 

 of our rivers. I never found any portions of testaceous mollusca in the giz- 

 zards of those obtained on our western waters, although even there they 

 might meet with abundance of these animals. 



When these birds are travelling, their flight is steady, rather laborious, but 

 greatly protracted. The whistling of their wings is heard at a considerable 

 distance when they are passing over head. At this time they usually move 

 in a broad front, sometimes in a continuous line. When disturbed, they fly 

 straight forward for awhile, with less velocity than when travelling, and, if 

 within proper distance, are easily shot. At times their notes are shrill, but 

 at others hoarse and guttural. They are, however, rarely heard during the 

 day, and indeed, like many other species, these birds are partly nocturnal. 



At the approach of spring the Drakes pay their addresses to the females, 

 before they set out on their journey. At that period the males become 

 more active and lively, bowing their heads, opening their broad bills, and 

 uttering a kind of quack, which to the listener seems produced by wind in 

 their stomach, but notwithstanding appears to delight their chosen females. 



