giving this up I made the most elaborate Talk upon them that I have ever attempted & actually succeeded in Crawling to within 50 yds of them with no other coors than to a few thin & leafless branches. Now their Ducks went up full stretch & taking the only chance I got them a charge of No 3 stopping on which flapped about on the water awhile & than crawled freely up on shore, going around to him I got within a few feet as he sat sleeply nodding on the mud & was about to pick him up when to my great disgust he rose straight up through the trees and flew off out of sight my gun missing fire at the critical moment. While watching this flock was much amused by their playful antics. Sometimes one would beat the water with his powerful wings churning it into foam around him. Then another would take it up and sometimes the whole together making a tremendous noise). They spent much time in chasing their plumage and in doing in the sun. I several times saw a drake swim rapidly around his mate (for they were manifestly paired) in a circle as if paying court to her affections. Occasionally one would quack three or four times but ever very loudly, & in rather a hoarser tone than the female ducks. On the way home I saw a wild pigeon sitting in an oak by the roadside and trying my horse I stopped &