ducks alive to observe their changes in plumage, describes the 

 Shoveller as by no means common. 



It often happens that the birds going furthest north to breed 

 linger longest on the road, where they can procure the requisite 

 food, in consequence of their breeding grounds being not yet 

 ready. The pink-footed goose* used formerly to be most common 

 at Prestwick Carr about the middle of April. These, and many 

 of the ducks passing northward over Holland as well as this coun- 

 try, at this season, will not breed till June on the desolate tracts 

 of country which are still covered with snow, and which princi- 

 pally produce them in quantities. Even the Golden Plover, which 

 breeds here in April (see Mr. Dresser's work, where nests of grey 

 Plover are described), was found with eggs by Mr. Seebohm in 

 Russia as late as the end of June, a difference of more than two 

 months. These birds journeying north are then just as good 

 food as birds killed here in February/ which remain here to 

 breed. 



The different kinds of ducks, not considering the subject locally, 

 do not all pass at the same time. During very severe weather 

 nearly all surface-feeding ducks must leave inland places, and by 

 far the greater portion migrate, the few which do remain being 

 of small importance. So soon as really lasting open weather 

 comes in spring, they begin to return on their northern journey 

 the Mallard and Wigeon first, the Teal and Pintail after them, 

 the Gadwall and Shoveller perhaps next, and the Garganey last, 

 the productions from fresh water enabling them in a great measure 

 to live, except the Wigeon, which seem almost independent of 

 fresh water when on the sea coast. 



Many of our water birds are nearly as regular migrants as the 

 land birds whose arrivals are so regularly chronicled ; the reason 

 why similar attention is not given to them is that they generally 

 inhabit places further from our homes. 



Mr. Fountaine's letter about the breeding of the Gadwall in 



Norfolk is highly interesting ; but we can hardly judge from it 



what becomes of the flocks during very severe weather, when all 



fresh water must be frozen. A question arises, do they migrate ? 



* Breeding in the Far North. 



