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bushes, and the ducks which nest here often lay their eggs

beneath the thickest parts of a bush and in crevices of a rock,

instead of choosing the more usual site which is below the

surface of the ground. In the adjacent colony, however, the

birds breed among the sand dunes, where bushes are scarce and

rabbit-holes very numerous. In this place a hole is almost in¬

variably selected for nesting purposes, and the eggs are often laid

many feet from the entrances to the burrows. This habit of

nesting in rabbit-holes has acquired for the bird the local name

of ‘ Burrow Duck.’


There can hardly be a spot in England where the habits of

these birds, in quite a wild state, can be better observed than on

this part of the Somerset coast. During a visit to the Down in

April of the present year, I came suddenly upon at least 300 of

these birds, resting in scattered parties on the sloping surface

and waiting for the tide to ebb and lay bare their feeding

grounds. The birds rose as soon as they were aware of my

presence, and it was a beautiful sight to see a hundred or more

of these birds on the wing at once, in the brilliant sunshine, and

crossing one another in all directions. The flight is more Gull¬

like than that of most of the ducks, for the wings are more

slowly beaten, and this fact enables an observer to distinguish

the species at a great distance.


The Down is a favourite resting place for the birds at high

tide, but it requires very careful stalking to get a good sight of

them, as they are extremely wary and fly out to sea if disturbed.

The colony among the sand-hills loves to rest on a low island

near the river bar, or on a sand bank opposite to it, which is only

covered by the spring tides.


This bird, though usually one of the shyest and waryest

of wild fowl, will sometimes in the breeding season admit of a

ver} r close approach. I have several times walked up to within

a few yards of a pair on the bare sands while they were busily

engaged in feeding, and have also, among the sand hills, crept so

close to parties of thirty or more, that with a glass I could follow

all their movements. The drakes are at this season very pugna¬

cious, and are continually chasing each other about, though I

have never seen a very serious combat. The pair seems to keep

together, though many pairs may be seen in close proximity,

which give the appearance of a flock. When disturbed, how¬

ever, they scatter in all directions, the pairs still keeping close

together.



