BIRDS OF THE ESTUARY 215 



immediate vicinity of water. On long country 

 walks through coombes or dingles, the nest 

 may be found alongside any small swamp or 

 marshy bottom; a straggling structure, softly 

 lined, containing perhaps ten eggs, which have 

 been carefully covered by the mother before she 

 slipped off them on your approach. 



The sight of wild duck has so far been the 

 only reward I ever reaped from getting up at 

 daylight in June in order to fish. On the 

 three different occasions that I tried this 'experi- 

 ment, I never caught a single trout, though on 

 the bank side at half past three; but teach time 

 I put up wild duck, twice well within range. 



On many winter mornings, provided the 

 marsh and estuary have not been much troubled 

 by guns, wigeon can be seen along the margins 

 of the ponds, usually well out of gunshot. 

 They are so wary that it is only now and then 

 that a bracte are bagged after much careful 

 stalking. The wigeon does not breed here but 

 makes off north in the spring as far as the 

 arctic circle. 



Teal are far more common on these ponds, 

 though they too are very shy at anyone who 

 might be carrying a gun. In looking at the 

 ponds from a quarter of a mile away it is 

 difficult always to tell teal from moorhens, but 

 after watching for a short time, you may see 

 one dive, which settles the question for you, 

 as teal never dive when feeding in fact never 

 at all unless when wounded. I have never 

 found their nest either upon or near the 



