s-back, it waits until the
latter makes his _somersault_ and goes down. It (the widgeon) then
darts forward so as to be sufficiently close, and, pausing again, scans
the surface with eager eye. It can tell where the other is at work, as
the blades of the plant at which it is tugging are seen to move above
the water. These at length disappear, pulled down as the plant is
dragged from its root, and almost at the same instant the canvass-back
comes up holding the root between his mandibles. But the widgeon is
ready for him. He has calculated the exact spot where the other will
rise; and, before the latter can open his eyes or get them clear of the
water, the widgeon darts forward, snatches the luscious morsel from his
bill, and makes off with it. Conflicts sometimes ensue; but the
widgeon, knowing himself to be the lesser and weaker bird, never stands
to give battle, but secures his prize through his superior agility. On
the other hand, the canvass-back rarely attempts to follow him, as he
knows that the other is swifter upon the water than he. He only looks
after his lost root with an air of chagrin, and then, reflecting that
there is "plenty more where it came from," kicks up its heels, and once
more plunges to the bottom.

The red-head rarely interferes with either, as he is contented to feed
upon the leaves and stalks, at all times floating in plenty upon the
surface.

As the canoe glided near, those on board watched these curious
manoeuvres of the birds with feelings of interest. They saw, moreover,
that the "trumpeter" had arrived among them, and the ducks seemed to
take no notice of him. Lucien was struck with something unusual in the
appearance of the swan. Its plumage seemed ruffled and on end, and it
glided along in a stiff and unnatural manner. It moved its neck neither
to one side nor the other, but held its head bent forward, until its
bill almost touched the water, in the attitude that these birds adopt
when feeding upon something near the surface. Lucien said nothing to
his companions, as they were all silent, lest they might frighten the
ducks; but Basil and Norman had also remarked the strange look and
conduct of the trumpeter. Francois' eyes were bent only upon the ducks,
and he did not heed the other.

As they came closer, first Lucien, and then Basil and Norman, saw
something else that puzzled them. Whenever the swan approached any of
the ducks, these were observed to disappear under t