the Seat of Charles Waterton, Esq. 35 



inhabitant of the lake. Several pairs hatch and bring up their 

 young. But during the winter season great flocks of them 

 migrating from the frozen north, as well as of the wigeon 

 and of the teal, pass their inclement season here. 



Though the wild ducks are seen on the waters during the 

 daytime, at nightfall they repair to the sea-side, the shores of 

 which are distant nearly a hundred miles, for their supper ; 

 and, by return of dawn, these active travellers, far surpassing, 

 in speed of wing, the rapidly moving locomotive steam-engine, 

 are seen on the bosom of the lake, quietly pruning and 

 careening their plumage. The wigeon, feeding like geese on 

 the grasses and aquatic plants, does not go so far for his 

 nightly meal. If, however, he be undisturbed, he will feed 

 during the daytime. 



Not unfrequently the wild goose and the wild swan take 

 up their abode in severe weather in the lake. 



The seamew is also not an unfrequent visiter : the abun- 

 dance of eels and other fish tempts the voracious cormorant 

 to leave the stormy ocean, and pass his winter pleasantly at 

 Walton. This bird usually travels with his mate; and it is 

 interesting to observe the loving couple, an example of con- 

 jugal affection to human kind, fishing and diving in company. 

 Tired with the sports of the deep, and finding an unmolested 

 landing-place on the island, they often rest themselves from 

 their labours on its pretty shores, within a gunshot from the 

 windows of the hall. 



An instance of the humane and paternal care and solicitude 

 Mr. Waterton evinces for the comfort of his feathered family, 

 during winter, had nearly escaped me. He encourages the 

 growth of ivy around the stems of his trees, which not only 

 shelters many a poor starved benumbed bird, when the storm 

 rages, but offers it an agreeable place for its nest in the 

 spring. 



From these few and hastily collected observations while 

 visiting Walton Hall, it will appear that Mr. Waterton 

 possesses the finest and most extensive zoological garden in 

 the kingdom, or perhaps in Europe. Here roaming uncon- 

 strained and at free liberty, every bird and animal can be 

 examined in its true character. In possession of a powerful 

 telescope, which is often used, Mr. Waterton watches and 

 examines the habits and movements of his varied feathered 

 population. Almost constantly abroad, nothing escapes him. 



The perfect seclusion of the park enables him to experiment 

 harmlessly on his subjects. In the spring of 1833, he made 

 a carrion crow hatch two rook's eggs, a magpie those of a 

 jackdaw, and the daw those of the pie. 



D 2 



