PENNANT. l6l 



grebe, the black and dusky grebe, and the little grebe 

 are also inhabitants of the fens, together with the 

 coots, water-hens, spotted water-hens, water-rails, 

 ruffs, redshanks, lapwings or wipes, red crested god- 

 wits and whimbrels." " But the greatest curiosity 

 in those parts is the vast heronry at Cressi Hall, 

 six miles from Spalding. The herons resort there 

 in February to repair their nests, settle there in the 

 spring to breed, and quit the place during the 

 winter. They are as numerous as rooks, and their 

 nests are so crowded together that myself and the 

 company that was with me, counted not less than 

 eighty on one spreading oak. I found that the 

 crested heron was only the male of the other, and 

 it made a most beautiful appearance with its snowy 

 neck and long crest streaming with the wind." 

 Visiting Scarborough, and giving much information 

 about the different kinds of fish caught, he states : 

 " At a distance of four or five leagues from shore, 

 during the months of July and August, it is remarked 

 that at the depth of six or seven fathoms from the 

 surface, the water appears to be saturated like a 

 thick jelly, filled with the ova of fish, which reaches 

 ten or twelve fathoms deeper ; this is known by its 

 adhering to the ropes, the cables, and anchor when 

 they are fishing." "Landing at a small island 

 further north, we found the female eider ducks at 

 that time sitting ; the lower part of their nests was 

 made of sea plants, the upper part was formed of 

 the down which they pulled off their own breasts, 

 in which the eggs were surrounded and warmly 

 I. M 



