BRITISH DIVING DUCKS 
Family: ANATIDjE 
In the first volume of this series of books dealing with the life histories of certain groups 
of British birds, I treated the Surface-feeding Ducks. In these two volumes I have 
endeavoured to describe the Diving Ducks that stay with us, or are merely winter visitors. 
The Diving Ducks are characterised by their large and lobed hind-toes. They have thick 
heads and short necks, somewhat broad and clumsy bodies, whilst the legs lie rather 
far back towards the extremity of the body. The wings are somewhat shorter than those 
of Surface-feeding Ducks, and more arched, whilst the feathers of the wings and tail 
are closer. Broadly speaking, the ducks of this group dive for their food, and prefer, 
as a rule, deeper water and more exposed situations than the Surface-feeders, but some 
species also tip up the body to reach their food in water too shallow for immersion. 
With the possible exception of the Harlequin, they walk badly, and if hurried, with 
heavy waddling or erect body. All the members of the group fly swiftly, but those 
with heavy bodies, such as the Eiders and the Velvet Scoter, are disinclined to rise, and 
have some difficulty in doing so except in a strong wind. When swimming the body 
is sunk rather deeply in the water, so that only a strip of the flank feathers which overlap 
the wings are visible above the surface, whilst the tail generally trails in the water. 
The short and broad tail is stiff and resilient, with the ends often worn owing to the 
rubbing it receives on the bottom of the lakes, rivers, and sea. As a rule Diving 
Ducks do not pursue fish or water creatures for any great distance under the surface, as 
Grebes and Divers do, but rather select food that is stationary on the bottom or directly 
in their course. They can remain under water for one minute or even more, and for 
the most part swallow all their food under water in the place where it is found, although 
sometimes they will bring large substances to the surface, and here break them up or 
complete the action of swallowing. Unless hurried, frightened, or wounded, most of 
the species propel themselves under water solely with the feet, but several of them 
half-open the wings, whilst the Eider often " flies " with its wings under water, using 
its feet as well. This I have myself seen many times. Most of the Diving Ducks 
dive and proceed directly against the current down to the feeding spot, but the common 
Golden-Eye, and probably all the species of Clangula, work down to the bottom in 
spiral curves where the water is at all deep. 
The calls uttered by Diving Ducks are very different, in the case of the males, from 
those emitted by the Surface-feeding Ducks. Most of the females utter a hoarse guttural 
croak instead of a "quack," whilst the males have each distinct notes which are separately 
described when dealing with the diff"erent species. They feed on small fish, water insects, 
mussels, crabs, snails, worms, or on the sprouts, seeds, and buds of various water plants. For 
the most part they affect the sea, often far from land, and may breed close to the salt water, 
VOL. I. A 
