NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 25 
teals, and widgeons, of various denominations ; where they preen 
and solace, and rest themselves, till towards sunset, when they 
issue forth in little parties (for in their natural state they are all 
birds of the night) to feed in the brooks and meadows ; returning 
again with the dawn of the morning. Had this lake an arm or two 
more, and were it planted round with thick covert (for now it is 
perfectly naked), it might make a valuable decoy. 
TEAL AND WIDGEON. 
Yet neither its extent, nor the clearness of its water, nor the resort 
of various and curious fowls, nor its picturesque groups of cattle, 
can render this meer so remarkable as the great quantity of coins 
that were found in its bed about forty years ago. But, as such 
discoveries more properly belong to the antiquities of this place, I 
shall suppress all particulars for the present, till I enter professedly 
on my series of letters respecting the more remote history of this 
village and district. 
