64 SOUTHERN ESTUARIES 



a considerable distance from the water. Sir R. Payne 

 Gallwey states that he saw one, "when the tide was 

 Jow, and she was unable to lead her brood to the sea, 

 carry them on her back, each duckling holding on by 

 a feather, having, while she lay down, climbed up and 

 ensconced themselves with the greatest care." We 

 were anxious to get a young sheldrake as a specimen, 

 and rowed up the stream which flows down from Corfe 

 Castle, in pursuit of another brood of the young 

 ducks. Their skill and quickness in swimming and 

 diving for a long time defeated us. But as the river 

 grew narrower the space left to the birds for sub- 

 marine tactics was contracted, and we secured one to 

 take back to the yacht. It was of a white and cin- 

 namon colour, not in the least like the plumage of 

 the old birds, but a handsome creature, both in the 

 tint and texture of its skin. Meantime the sun had 

 sunk, the flats grew dark, and the broad stretch of 

 water had changed into a great level mud-flat, fringed 

 by dark heather and pines, and intersected by a wind- 

 ing, baffling stream down which we crept towards 

 the yacht's lights in the distance. As the night 

 drew on the whole harbour seemed alive with birds. 

 Ducks, curlews, and waders flitted to and fro, and the 

 air was full of calls and sounds quite unfamiliar to 

 inland naturalists. Every now and again we heard 

 the croak of a heron, as one after another they flew 

 in and took up their stations for the night's fishing. 

 Long after bed-time, as we lay awake listening to the 

 lap of the water against the yacht's side and the rush 



