MALLARD. 109 



substances. When winter ensues, and their resting- 

 place is perhaps frozen, they have to seek for water 

 in the springs and ditches which do not freeze, and 

 in the rivers which are generally partially open, as- 

 sembling in small parties or flocks ; but in severe 

 seasons they are often driven to great extremity, 

 for we do not think that the individuals belonging, 

 as it were, to a district, migrate far, or seek the 

 coast. In a locality not more than twelve miles 

 distant, we have rather seen an increase than the 

 reverse at such times ; and in one or two winters 

 of unusual severity which have occurred within the 

 last twenty years, where almost every pool or hole 

 was either entirely blown up by snow or frozen, 

 we have seen the wild duck (generally so shy) so 

 reduced as to seek for any greener spot in a field, 

 or the least open part of a ditch, and, if disturbed 

 from these, merely fly around or to a short dis- 

 tance, until the cause of annoyance had been re- 

 moved, their bodies being at the same time com- 

 pletely emaciated. Upon the sea-coast there is 

 always a considerable number to be found during 

 winter and in severe weather, but bearing no pro- 

 portion to the large flocks of widgeon and some of 

 the true sea-ducks; these we conceive to have 

 been either birds which have migrated from ano- 

 ther country, or those which belonged to the dis- 

 trict in immediate vicinity to the coast, and they 

 have resorted to the sea more as a resting-place 

 than for food, preferring at all times to seek it in- 



