THE TEAL 199 



for most liberally in the way of noise. The 

 Heron occasionally joined in with its harsh 

 fraank ; and then, suddenly, as though a truce 

 had been agreed upon, all flew away to a large 

 oak not far away and settled amongst its branches, 

 remaining there peacefully for some time. 



I believe that a pair of Herons bred at Winch- 

 more Hill last spring the exact spot I will not 

 mention as it might tell against their interests. 

 The nest was not discovered until the middle of 

 May, and then it was forsaken ; but I had fre- 

 quently seen a pair of Herons near this spot for 

 some time previously. As a rule Herons are 

 gregarious in their habits, a single nest being 

 seldom met with. I hope that this one mentioned 

 may be an exception, and that the founding of a 

 Heronry in our district may actually come to 

 pass. 



The Teal is sometimes to be seen on *the 

 Brook; but this very seldom happens, for it is 

 three years since a pair last visited us. I had 

 hoped that they would escape the notice of any 

 one with a gun ; but such was not to be their fate, 

 for they had only been there about a fortnight 

 when they were met with on a Sunday morning 

 by a farm labourer, who shot them both and sold 

 them for five shillings, and they now adorn the 



