A Week in Derbyshire 359 



Oil another ]xmd on tlie same estate ^ve saw quite 

 four pairs of Tufted Dueks, whieli were doul)tless nestintr 

 on some small islands round whieh tliev were swimminLi" ; 

 but there being no boat, we did not imestigate fartlier. 



A pair of Sandpipers were seen on a grassy ])ank at 

 the end of the lake, but our search for tlie nest was fruitless. 

 So late in the season, there was a probability of tlieir liaving 

 been hatched. However, next day I was able to })liotograpli 

 a nest of tliese interesting little birds. Snugly liidden under 

 a drooping leaf, the nest was by no means easy to find ; 

 but witli tlie richly spotted pear-shaped eggs it made a 

 pretty picture beneath the tall burdocks, which must appear 

 a veritable forest to the slender forms of the Sandpi])ers. 

 Such plants afford excellent covert, of which these birds 

 are Aery fond of availing themselves, more especially as they 

 grow luxuriantly along the edges of these Derbyshire rivers, 

 and on the small islands wliich are the fa\ourite resort of 

 the Sandpipers. They are charming little birds, whose 

 acquaintance I had long much desired to make, and their 

 wild, shrill note is a fit accompaniment to the lovely scenes 

 amid which they are so exclusively found. 



One day was spent in a large wood on an estate which 

 had been neglected in the way of game preservation, and 

 was in consequence better stocked than usual with Hawks 

 and Owls and other birds not usually allowed to exist by 

 keepers. A Kestrel's nest was one inducement for the long 

 tramp, but unfortunately it was found impossible to photo- 

 graph it. The situation Avas remarkable. On the summit 



