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172 IN NORFOLK BY THE SEA 



seen to be shelducks, called also " burrowing " 

 ducks, from the habit of their nesting. For this 

 bird nests underground, usually in one of the rabbit- 

 holes of the sandhills. With its crimson bill, and gay 

 magpie and chestnut plumage, it is a very beautiful 

 bird. It is not always safe to conclude that every 

 rabbit-hole which betrays the tracks of the shelduck 

 holds a nest, for the birds usually try several burrows 

 before making a final choice. But by lying down like 

 this, especially at early morning when the sitting bird 

 has been off to feed, it is only too easy to follow 

 her to her nest ; too easy, because in this way the eggs 

 are found and stolen. And of those birds now out 

 there on the ooze, only one or two are males whose 

 ducks are sitting, the remainder are pairs who have 

 lost their eggs and have not yet gone again to nest. 

 But at least one brood got off successfully on June ist, 

 and they are now busy chasing insects in the quiet 

 of " Jacob's Rest." At a week or so old these little 

 black and white ducklings are most accomplished 

 divers, able when alarmed to travel under water for 

 many yards. No haven more perfect for young water- 

 fowl could possibly be found than this peaceful bit of 

 shallow water, where scarce a human being passes, 

 but only the nesting redshank runs piping along the 



