YOUNG DUCKS DIVING 179 



themselves in the short grass being quite diverting, 

 or even comical in the extreme. However pretty a 

 young Wild Duck may prove to be on the water, 

 when placed on land it is otherwise, being awkward 

 or unwieldly. As everybody knows it is even 

 more so with the Swan, which ashore is one of 

 the most perfect feathered " landlubbers " to be 

 found, while on the water it is the acme of 

 symmetry. 



There were several other Wild Ducks about in 

 hiding among the reeds ; and one of these flew 

 out making a great noise, quacking vigorously, 

 beating the water and splashing with its wings. 

 About half-way across the lake this Duck settled 

 on the water calling to its young, which soon 

 emerged from several unlikely places, and which, 

 when they saw us, made most comical efforts to 

 hide themselves by diving ; but as they could 

 remain under water only a few seconds, this was 

 not very effective. I have seen Wild Ducklings 

 dive soon after they had left their eggs, or perhaps 

 more correctly bobbing in and out of the water, in 

 their fruitless endeavours to hide themselves from 

 observation. 



This lake belongs to an estate and is surrounded 

 by fields, well wooded with large oaks, and other 

 fine trees. A few years ago no one lived on the 



