Long-tailed Duck 121 
open the wings before the rest of the body is out of the water. They fly low over the 
water, and in spring, especially when pairing is commenced, are the most restless and 
energetic of all ducks. 
Both adults and young fly in irregular flocks as well as in Indian file. They alight 
somewhat abruptly in the water, and I have often seen them, especially in spring, literally 
fall into the water with closed wings from a height of several feet, sending the spray 
flying. They are happy-go-lucky little ducks, and seem to have a certain dashing abandon 
in their movements which shows confidence in their own skill in water or air. I have 
several times seen them fight in mid-air and go rolling in the sea, dive, fly right out 
of the water, and continue the chase till one or the other gave in. 
It is said that on mild days in spring and autumn Long-tailed Ducks will collect 
in large flocks and fly so high in the air as to be scarcely visible, and then descend 
to the water with a rush that can be heard from a considerable distance. I have never 
observed this habit in the species, though it is common enough in Golden-Eye, Scaup, 
Tufted, and Pochard. This "towering"' is described by Mr. George Mackay in the 
Auk (October 1892), and other American writers. 
The call of the male of this species has been rendered into words in different ways, 
and in some localities this gives the bird its name. In fact the American name of 
''Old Squaw" is the synonym of garrulity. "Honk, Honk-a-link," "Calloo," "Curl-wee," 
and " Coal-and-Candle-light " are all onomatopseic titles. In Russia and Siberia the bird 
is known as "Col-gd-y." In America, as well as the common name, it is known as 
"Cock-a-wee" and "South-southerly." The cry always seems to me to be like the 
syllables " Ca-Ca-Coralwee," and often the Ca-Ca " is given before the full notes. Whether 
on the still sunlit waters of the bay or rising above the crash of the loudest gale, the 
cry of this gallant little sea-rover is always delightful to hear, whilst it brings back 
memories of snow, ice, and rough weather so dearly beloved by the wild-fowler. Once 
or twice I have sailed right in amongst a large flock of these birds, and the calls of all 
the males crying at one time had quite a musical effect. It is only very rarely that the 
wild-fowler has an opportunity of approaching a large flock of these ducks in the 
gunning-punt, which is by far the best shelter in which to note the habits of wild-fowl, 
owing to the exposed nature of their habitat ; but I have on several occasions, when the 
weather has been calm, been right amongst them before they have detected my presence. 
When on feed they are extraordinarily unsuspicious of danger, and knowing this, I 
allowed my punt to drift into a flock of about fifty. The bay of the Eden was a sheet 
of drift ice and quite calm, so that there was not much danger in going ofl"-shore to 
the feeding flock, which came up all round my boat, so close in fact that I could almost have 
touched one bird with my gun as it stared into my eyes. I drifted right through the 
flock, and they did not rise until I sat up and showed myself. 
If you watch a flock of these ducks feeding off"-shore you will often see them in 
a long line parallel to the coast. The diving of the bird at the extreme end is the 
signal for the rest to follow in regular succession, never all at once, and seldom more 
1 « 
It is remarkably strong in flight and alights on the water with a hard dash, making the water fly for many feet. It also 
ascends to great heights as it flies from one locality to another, if distant" {Contributio7is io the Nat. Hist, of Alaska n xxi. bv 
L. M. Turner, 1886). > f >i4, 
VOL. I. Q 
