The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-24
FLYING UNDER WATER.

. Gun.
It is a rare privilege to see wild
bird swim under water, and one to be
obtained only by etratagem combined
with good luck. The spectacle has been
twice accorded the writer, and the APP
pearance was SO remarkable that de-
scription is offered, together with the
conditions which led up to the OBSERVE
tons.
Two of Us were hunting, and as we
were unsuccessful in securing game, we
resolved to try our skill on some pied
bill grebes which were disporting them
selves on mill pond. These active
divers are also known by the names Of
water witch, didapper, dab-chick and
diver. This bird is very elusive chap
in the water. He can dive in a way to
surprise the smartest shooter, and will
escape from a whole regiment of ex-
PERT gunners, if there Is plenty Of water
for his movements.
Securing a boat we padded out on the
pond. when, of course, the flock Of
seven plungers disappeared beneath
the surface, as they never attempt to
escape by fight. When the scattered
birds reappeared above water, several
shots were directed at them, unsucoess-
fully. as they dove repeatedly at the
fash. Selecting one bird, probably in
mature and inexperienced, we were so
fortunate as to drive it into shallow
water at the edge OF the pond. In
confined space, and in water not over
one foot deep, SO surrounded by banks
that the ratified bird could not escape,
1t SWAN about just beneath the sur>
face in plain sight. Its motions were
rapid, and in addition to the prepul-
sire power obtained from it's feet, it
also used its wings to assist. In fact
the writer is not at ell sure that it did
not attain it's chief impulse from its
wings. The motions by the feet were
alternate, as in the case of the tame
duck, either on land or water. But
the motions of the wings were COM
bined, as if the bird were flying, though
much more spasmodic. 1t really seemed
IS if the bird were flying through
the water, with the head and neck
stretched out and the wings in nearly
regular beat. Finally the mistaken
creature broke water and took to its
wings above tae surface, when 1t fell
an easy victim to the ready gun.
On another occasion was rambling
along the river in the dead of winter
when I saw flock OF six golden-eye
ducks or whistle-wings. Obey occupied
strip of rapidly flowing water nearly
in the center Of the river. Il was a cold
season and the river was nearly all
frozen over, and only strips of rapid
water were left uncovered. By careful
sneaking managed to reach the bank
Of the river on which were some small
bushes. but found that was still over
10 yards from the open water, with
no chance of getting nearer without
being seen. With nallards and many
other ducks one could well risk sho.
at this distance, but with whistle-wings
it is different matter, for they are,
hard to kill and very shrewd, and can
dive at the fash.
After watching the hook for a few
minutes the discovery was made that
ono, two or three individuals usually
remained above while the others were
Below feeding and that the usual time
which a duck remained under water
was about 20 seconds. At no time did
all six of the birds disappear at once.
Waiting until four Of the birds dovc
at about the Same time, I rushed out
upon the ice with both barrels cooked.
The two sentinels few at once, and I
let them 60. making tracks for the
open water. Up came another bird and
was brought down before he had gone Q,
rod. Then two more appeared and .
clear miss was scored to my discredit.
The last duck next came to the sur
face. and seeding how close I was, and
not knowing that my old fusee was IN.
loaded, concluded that he would try the
diving method Of escape. Passing on
up the open strip in the river, he e.
sayed to reach the end Of the open wa
ter and take wing from there. when far
enough away from my gun 10 Be COM
paratively safe. frustrated this move.
however, by walking nearly TO the up
per end of the open. When the duck
appeared he sow me and dove and SWAN
down stream, swimming with great
velocity by my position On the edge Of
the open water. The strip Of rapid
water was about hundred yards long
by ten or fifteen in its widest place and
gradually narrowing at each end
Loading the old muzzle-loader a. rap
idly as possible, while walked or trot-
ted along. reached the lower end and
had a shot when the bird came up for
air, but was unsuccessful. We then
proceeded up stream. At every oppor.
tunity I fired at this lightning swim
mer, but the expert diver always eluded
my charge.
The water was not over . foot and
q half 10 two feet deep and 1 could plain
" see the motions of the bird. The
movements of the wings were kept up
and seemed to assist greatly in pro1not.
ing speed. The current was strong and
yet the duck would forge up stream
at rate to make me walk rapidly.
while it fairly few down stream. After
following it up and down several times
and firing at it unsucoessfully seven or
eight shots. tried the experiment OF
shooting at IL below the surface of The
water / think 1 must have stunned
the duck, for it came TO the surface only
onoe afterward, and then disappeared
for good. being probably swept under
the ice by the swift current
These instances of personal observa-
ton would seem to indicate that ducks
and grebes use their wings TO assist
= III 81.