SUMMER ON THE MOOES. 47 



Presently five of the ducks went ashore on a small flat 

 island, where my hrother and I crept within 50 yards of 

 them, and at that short distance enjoyed a charming 

 ornithological scene. There were four Pochards (three 

 drakes and a duck), and one fine old Tufted-drake. A 

 prettier picture as they sat on the low pebbly shore, some 

 preening, others lying resting, and each form perfectly 

 reflected in the still Avater, with a background of sedges 

 and tall green flags, it would be difiicult to conceive. There 

 were at least a dozen Pochards (mostly adult drakes) on the 

 water, and a still larger number of Tufted Ducks. From the 

 date (Pochards lay about mid-May), there can be no doubt 

 that these ducks were actually breeding there ; hardly any 

 of the ducks were visible, and the drakes most reluctant to 

 leave the spot, circling round and round, high overhead, 

 with rapid flight, and a harsh croak of a quack, more like 

 the voice of a corby than a duck. 



Tufted Ducks appear quite likely to breed iu small 

 numbers in the northern counties, and their having 

 actually done so more than once is already on record. I 

 have several times noticed pairs, and small companies 

 quite late in the spring. But it should be remembered 

 that the Tufted Duck (unlike the Pochard) is a late-nesting 

 species, not laying till mid-June. Hence, their being 

 merely seen at any particular locality during the earlier 

 part of the summer, is in no way a proof that they will 

 remain to breed there. 



To the occurrences of what are called rare birds, I attach 

 but little importance. There is no such thing as a rare 

 bird, except in a relative sense. Go to its proper home, a 

 few hundred miles north or south, and the supposed rarity 

 is found as abundant as nature's balance of life will permit. 

 All creatures seek out the zones of land or sea which best 

 fulfil their requirements ; when one wanders by chance or 

 stress, a degree or two beyond those limits, it is regarded as 

 a rara avis, and sentimentalists bewail the death of the 

 poor belated straggler, as though, if it had been unmolested, 

 the whole species would have extended their boundaries, or 

 shifted their normal home. Personally, I would never 



