398 THE WILD-DUCK. 



In Sussex, a nest was found in an oak-tree, five-and- 

 twenty feet from the ground ; the old bird was sitting 

 upon nine eggs, supported by some small twigs, laid 

 crossways. 



In Derbyshire, a gentleman's game-keeper observed a 

 Wild-Duck fly out of a large oak, in which the year pre- 

 ceding had been a Hawk's nest. On examination, she 

 was found to have laid two eggs in the old nest, com- 

 pletely repaired. 



Another instance occurred at Madeley, in Stafford- 

 shire. In this case, the Wild-Duck took possession of a 

 Rook's nest at the top of an oak-tree. The Drake was 

 also seen to perch on a bough near her, and occasionally 

 in her absence sat on the nest. 



This is not a solitary instance of birds usually build- 

 ing on the ground, giving an accidental preference to 

 another and apparently unnatural situation. At Caistor, 

 in Norfolk, a Bantam Hen was observed to fly into the 

 branches of a spruce-fir, and take possession of a Wood- 

 Pigeon's nest, about fourteen feet from the ground; 

 there she laid five eggs, and no doubt would have hatched 

 her brood, had not the nest been unfortunately destroyed; 

 neither would there have been any danger to the young 

 ones, as it is a well-known fact, that chickens, soon after 

 they are hatched, may fall from a height of several feet 

 without sustaining any injury. 



In the preserves of the Zoological Gardens, in the 

 Regent's Park, London, we saw the nest of a Wild-Duck 

 on the roof of a thatched cottage by the water-side. The 

 keeper was ordered to keep a good look-out, in order to 

 see how the young ones would contrive to reach the 

 ground ; but they eluded his watchfulness by disappear- 

 ing one morning, when he and his family were absent at 

 church. It is, indeed, difficult to account for the excep- 

 tions to the accustomed habits of Wild-Ducks: we should 

 suppose, that naturally they would prefer a convenient 

 spot close to the water, and in such places their nests 

 are usually built. Once, indeed, to our surprise, a nest 



