MAY. WILD -DUCK TEAL TERN. 225 



Everywhere on the lakes are broods of young 

 wild-ducks, either swimming in close order behind 

 their mothers, or all huddled together in a heap 

 on some little island or projecting point of land. 



As we were out driving the other day, a teal 

 came fluttering out of the dry ditch by the roadside, 

 and for above a hundred yards continued flying and 

 running almost under the horse's feet. I found 

 that she had a number of young ones unable to get 

 over the wall, so we helped them into the adjoining 

 wood. They were a long distance from the water, 

 and had very rough ground to pass over to reach it. 

 I remember exactly a similar circumstance happen- 

 ing to me in Eoss-shire, when I also saved the lives 

 of a young brood of teal by lending them a helping 

 hand. These instances prove that, notwithstanding 

 the instinct of birds, which generally enables them 

 to keep their young out of harm's way, they occasion- 

 ally get them into a situation not only of difficulty, 

 but where any dog or mischievous boy coming along 

 might destroy the whole brood. At every ebb tide 

 now, the terns fish with great perseverance for the 

 sand-eels, on which they almost entirely feed. 



The month of May this year appears to have 

 quite changed its character; instead of being warm 

 and genial, we have nothing but cold and cutting 

 east winds; and the mountains have lost but very 



VOL. I. Q 



