THE WILD-DUCK. 399 



was found in a patch of high grass, within a few feet of 

 the spot where a boat was drawn up; and either so 

 closely had the Duck sat, or so cleverly had she timed 

 her visits to and fro, that it was not till after some time 

 discovered by a carpenter who had been for three or 

 four days on the spot, repairing the boat. But, from 

 several other circumstances coming under our observa- 

 tion, we have reason to believe that they often build at 

 considerable distances from the waters intended to be the 

 permanent nursery for their brood. About a mile above 

 this very sheet of water on which the boat Avas repairing, 

 there is a hill covered with heather, fern, and planta- 

 tions ; and more than once at early dawn, about four 

 o'clock, in June, broods of little dark Wild-Ducklings, 

 just hatched, have been seen trotting down the road, 

 leading from the hill to the water; and once we were 

 surprised, on a Summer's morning, at seeing about a 

 dozen of these active little nestlings running before our 

 door ; so rapid were their motions, that, notwithstanding 

 every exertion, they contrived to elude observation, till 

 they were tracked in the grass to a small pit about two 

 hundred yards off in a meadow. 



They no doubt had been making for the mere, or 

 larger sheet of water, from the spot above-mentioned, 

 but had lost their way. There is one species, however, 

 which in preference to trees or flat ground, selects a 

 very unaccountable accommodation, namely a rabbit- 

 hole. This is the Sheldrake, a bird by no means 

 uncommon on many parts of our coasts. She selects, 

 if possible, a burrow near the water, in which are laid 

 sometimes sixteen eggs, which she carefully covers with 

 the down of her body. The eggs may also be easily 

 reared under hens, and the young ones may be kept in 

 ponds. We have known several thus domesticated; but 

 although many other species of Wild-Duck, under similar 

 confinement, bred regularly, the Sheldrake never was 

 observed to take any steps in preparing a nest. 



In a nobleman's menagerie, we have heard, however, 



