i;8 
FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
wax bill and flesh-coloured legs, like a hen's ; then I shot 
two small waders, rather like our ring-dotterel— shot 
them running, I confess— did not even, like the knowing 
French chasseur and the pheasant, <vait till he did stop.' 
But it was getting dark, and I could not have seen them 
flying unless against the sea. Crossing the hill, on our 
way back, wc shot two curious little green birds of the 
linnet tribe ; they had stayed out late, and flew up against 
the light in the way of some No. 8 shot. One more item 
made up our mixed bag. Just as we got to the north 
shore of Port Stanley, and were stumbling over the stones 
and peat-hags along the shore, there was a great flapper- 
flapper-splash-splash, and a big goose, as I thought, 
went scurrying out of the bank. Bang went my left with 
No. 8, and it fell in its feathers. This turned out to be 
one of the most curious ducks one could well set eyes on. 
I should think he must have weighed twelve or thirteen 
pounds, perhaps more. Its head was the colour of a 
