90 
SCAUP DUCK. 
wounded, and unable to fly, it is almost hopeless to follow them, in 
consequence of their great skill in diving. Their wings being 
short they either cannot rise with the wind, when it blows fieshly, 
or they are unwilling to do so, for they are invariably seen to rise 
against the wind. In a calm they get up with considerable flutter- 
ing. 
The Blue-bills when disturbed by the fishermen along the Jer- 
sey shore, in the spring, resort to other feeding places ; and they 
are frequently observed a short distance below the Philadelphia 
Navy-yard, particularly at the time when their favorite snail-shells 
begin to crawl up the muddy shore for the purpose of breeding. 
Though often seen feeding in places where they can reach the bot- 
tom with their bills, yet they seldom venture on the shore, the la- 
bor of walking appearing repugnant to their inclinations. W^hen 
wounded they will never take to the land if they can possibly 
avoid it ; and when compelled to walk they waddle along in the 
awkward manner of those birds whose legs, placed far behind, do 
not admit of a free and graceful progression. 
