14 ON THE SEA-BIKDti 1'KEsKKVATiON ACT, 



instance Shovellers, generally arrive at a pond about the 20th 

 March. They know that by that time there will be no lasting 

 frost to prevent their getting food, but when they do come, they 

 come so quietly that you find them at the pond and there only, 

 none being observed perhaps for miles round about, either in 

 coming or departing after having reared their young. 



During the present close -season Garganfc^s would never be 

 killed in England, as they only arrive about the 20th March 

 when they do come, and depart as soon as ever the young can 

 fly, August at the latest. 



Those extensive landed proprietors who have honest servants, 

 and who possess large tracts of waste land with shallow water 

 which stands long enough to produce the food the birds require, 

 are independent of all laws. So long as the marshes are ex- 

 tensive enough to enable the birds to take long flights on being 

 disturbed and to get into a place of security, then they will con- 

 gregate and remain in them, but only so long as Nature has 

 taught them. If often disturbed, or if the tract of ground is not 

 sufficiently large to guarantee them security from frequent mo- 

 lestation, they will not remain. 



This district is so much what is called improved, that there 

 is now hardly room for real wild fowl anywhere. Even when 

 there are ponds, the country round about is not wild enough and 

 extensive enough for them to remain at. 



Many persons have what they call wild Ducks on their ponds. 

 These have been placed there by themselves or their predecessors. 

 They are very different from the truly wild birds in their nature, 

 seldom going far from home. The truly wild birds will not be 

 controlled in their habits. They prefer being free as the wind, 

 and as changeable. They pair in spring and keep themselves 

 aloof from the half-castes, very seldom indeed having any varia- 

 tion in their colour. The others are polygamous and often change 

 their colours, having always coarser feet and other parts. They 

 are no doubt valuable as ornaments, as well as for food, when 

 you cannot have the true wild birds. Nature does not counte- 

 nance variations in colour generally in wild birds and animals, 

 but there is no rule without an exception, instance the Huff in 



