101 



The Marsh is intersected by open drains, or stells, as they 

 are locally called, interesting to Conchologists from the variety 

 of fi-esh water or brackish water Mollusca to be found in them. 



The Marsh was formerly the habitat of many interesting 

 birds, particularly of the Duck and Wader species, and doubtless 

 m quieter times many bred there, amongst them probably the 

 Dunlm. The Redshank still nests there in limited numbers, 

 and the Ring Dotterel on the shingle just over the sand-banks ; 

 and in the Rabbit Warren where the village of Warrenby now 

 stands, the Sheldrake nested in some numbers in the rabbit 

 burrows. Mallard and Teal doubtless nested in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Decoy, for it is essential that there should be good 

 breeding grounds near a decoy. 



Commoner birds, such as the Waterhen, still nest by the 

 rush-fringed pools, and large flocks of Plovers, green and golden, 

 and smaller birds, such as Snow Buntings, Larks and Starlint^s' 

 still frequent the Marsh in considerable flocks in the winter 

 time. 



CoATtiAM Wild Ouctr 



DECOY. 



The Wild-Duck Decoy is situated at about the centre of the 

 marshes, and about half-a mile from the new village of Warrenby 

 which, (as its name implies,) was built on the site of a rabbit 

 warren. It is situate to the south-west of the village ; and at the 

 end of the village next the Decoy is an old farm house and farm 



