364 GOLDEN-EYE DUCK. 



They allowed me to advance to within a few yards of the shore, when, 

 swimming close together, and shaking their necks, they emitted their rough 

 croaking notes. Not being desirous of shooting them, I slapped my hands 

 smartly together, when in an instant they all went down, but suddenly rose 

 again, and running as it were over the water for about ten yards, took flight, 

 passed and repassed several times over the ford, and alighted on the large 

 branches of a sycamore that hung over the creek, at no greater distance from 

 where I stood than about twenty yards. This was the first time in my life 

 that I had seen Golden-eyes alight on a tree. I waded to the opposite side, 

 and gazed upon them with amazement for several minutes. When on the 

 eve of pursuing my course, one of them, gliding downwards with nearly 

 closed wings, launched upon the water, and at once dived. The other four 

 followed one after another, somewhat in the manner of Pigeons or Starlings, 

 as if to ascertain whether some danger might not still exist. I left them at 

 their avocations, and soon after met a family of country people going to 

 Henderson, one of whom asked me respecting the depth of the ford, to 

 which I replied that the water was low, and added that they should be care- 

 ful lest some Ducks that I had left there might frighten the horses on which 

 the women were. The good folks, with whom I was acquainted, laughed, 

 and we parted. 



About four o'clock, as I was returning, with a fine Turkey-cock slung to 

 my back, I met the same party, who told me that, "sure enough," the 

 Ducks were at the ford, and I was likely to have "a good crack at them." 

 There they were when I went up, and I forced them to fly off; but as I was 

 proceeding, and not more than fifty yards beyond the creek, I heard their 

 splashings as they again alighted. In the course of a fortnight I visited the 

 place several times, but never missed finding these five Ducks there. This 

 led me to inquire as to the cause, and, having undressed, I waded out bare- 

 footed, and examined the bottom, which I found to be composed of rather 

 hard blue clay, full of holes bored by cray-fish. But to make myself quite 

 sure that these creatures formed the attraction to the Ducks, I watched an 

 opportunity, and shot two of the latter, the examination of which satisfied 

 me on the subject. 



I had long before this been convinced, that an abundant supply of food 

 afforded a powerful attraction to migrating birds, and on this subject you 

 may remember m}' remarks in the articles of the Wild Turkey and Passen- 

 ger Pigeon; but I had not then, nor have I since, seen so strong an instance 

 of pertinacity in attachment to a particular spot. 



The flight of this species is powerful, extremely rapid, and wonderfully 

 protracted. It passes along with a speed equal to that of any of the Duck 

 tribe, and I believe can easily traverse the space of ninety miles in an hour. 



