1 68 love's meinie. 



just above the high-water level, about three 

 feet in height, and of considerable thickness. 

 At the bottom, on both sides of it, alternate 

 stones had been left out, so as to form a series 

 of square compartments for the ducks to make 

 their nests in. Almost every compartment 

 was occupied ; and, as we walked along the 

 shore, a long line of ducks flew out one after 

 another. The surface of the water also was 

 perfectly white with drakes, who welcomed 

 their brown wives with loud and clamorous 

 cooing. When we arrived at the farmhouse, 

 we were cordially welcomed by its mistress. 

 The house itself was a great marvel. The 

 earthen wall that surrounded it and the window 

 embrasures were occupied by ducks. On the 

 ground, the house was fringed with ducks. 

 On the turf-slopes of the roof we could see 

 ducks ; and a duck sat in the scraper. 



"A grassy bank close by had been cut into 

 square patches like a chess-board, (a square of 

 turf of about eighteen inches being removed, 

 and a hollow made,) and all were filled with 

 ducks. A windmill was infested, and so were 

 all the outhouses, mounds, rocks, and crevices. 

 The ducks were everywhere. Many of them 



