5 6 British Diving Ducks 
Orkney and Shetland, and many on the lakes of Wigtown, S.W. Scotland, and Ireland, 
owing to their haunts in these places seldom being frozen. 
Speaking of the winter habits of the species in Germany, Naumann says :— 
" Although they seem fairly unsusceptible to cold, as long as ice does not entirely close the pieces 
of water to them, yet for alJ colder lands they remain birds of passage. From September or the beginning 
of October onward they assemble in small companies on larger sheets of water, and these flocks grow 
bigger in proportion as the year advances until finally in November or December they have become 
flocks of many thousands ; at the approach of frosts they endeavour to prevent the complete freezing 
of certain places on the water by continued movement, and all at first start on their journey together 
if they can no longer succeed in doing this and the water is altogether covered with ice. They wander 
off in great flocks in search (of water), from which only a few occasionally through some mishap become 
separated, for afterwards on still-open places on the rivers you seldom come across Heron-duck (Tufteds), 
and these will soon follow after, so that, in the middle of the winter (unless it is quite a mild one) there 
are none to be seen in our country. Whilst those assembled in the north and east of Germany desert 
us in order, some of them to winter in southern lands in Switzerland, Italy, and Hungary, on large inland 
lakes, or on the sea coasts." 
Some remain on the sea or the N. and E. coast of Germany, but generally about 
the tidal estuaries. Their appearance on the open sea Naumann very rightly regards as 
exceptional. 
During the day the companies of Tufted Ducks spend most of the time in resting, 
preening, and feeding, but as evening comes on they become restive and keep much on 
the wing. Like many other ducks, most of their journeys are performed at night, 
which fact is proved by their frequent disappearance from certain lakes and appearance 
in the morning on others. When travelling over short distances the flight is generally 
performed within gunshot of the land or water, but when making longer journeys they 
mount to a considerable height in the air like the Golden-Eye. They generally fly in 
very close irregular companies in a swift arrow-like manner, swinging and swaying to take 
advantage of any wind-breaks, hills, woods, &c. In summer single pairs of birds will 
resort to any pond that is quiet and undisturbed, preferring those that are well lined with 
sedge, rushes, grassy banks, embankments, and heather islands. In autumn the immatures 
may be found even in pools in fields, wide drains, and large sewage tanks. I have killed 
several in an unsavoury bog right in the heart of the town of Glasgow known as the 
'Postle Marsh, but they do not seem partial to swift-flowing rivers, and if found there it 
is certain that they are only on passage. As a rule they come ashore on long low tongues 
of land or small islands from which a good view may be obtained, and are very quick to 
take alarm given by the cries of other birds or the use of their own eyes. During gales 
of wind they are very clever to take advantage of the shelter of islands or headlands, 
and yet remain on the water just out of shot of any spot that may hide a gunner. Resting 
on the water they appear to be asleep, yet their little feet are in motion all the time so 
as to prevent the wind from drifting them too far into rough water. Thus they will 
maintain one position for hours at a time. 
Tufted Ducks are not as a general rule very shy birds, and if protection is afforded 
them soon become remarkably tame. It is only on large sheets of water that they are 
difficult to approach. Even in such places they soon become accustomed to the passage 
of trains, carriages, or farm-carts, and recognise, like all ducks, the various degrees of danger 
