WINTER BIRDS OF PASSAGE 



183 



a good spell of shearing, but there always remains enough, 

 for ducks to-day are fewer and the zosteras range is wider. 

 When the broads are hard frozen there flock hither crowds 

 of coots, that, hungering for the roots of reed and rush, 



WIGEON 



remember that last year they found a friendly substitute in 

 the luscious ' wrack.' And they fly to the broad, feeding 

 like sheep on the grass that lies prone when the tide is out, 

 and wander about upon the soft ooze, all heading one way, 

 like grazing cattle. 



