92 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



and the marshy spots about their mouths. The 

 Shoveller is rare, and a winter visitor only. Of all 

 the non-diving Ducks the Wigeon is perhaps the 

 most numerous, but its numbers vary considerably 

 year by year. Large flocks of this Duck congregate 

 off the various estuaries in autumn, coming inland 

 at night to feed, and fairly good flight shooting 

 may be obtained in some localities, the birds being 

 remarkably regular in their movements. We 

 know that this was the case years ago in the 

 Teign estuary, but the birds are not so common 

 as formerly. They arrive in September and con- 

 tinue in their usual haunts until the following 

 March. Of the Diving Ducks the Scaup and 

 the Tufted Duck are by far the best known, 

 arriving in October and leaving in March or 

 April. There can be little doubt, however, that the 

 latter bird breeds within the limits of the county, 

 but more of this anon (cf. p. 100). Both species 

 haunt the estuaries, especially during prolonged 

 rough weather. The Pochard is a winter visitor 

 too, but much less common than the preceding 

 species. It is also more prone to keeping out at 

 sea, and is not so frequently seen about our 

 estuaries. The same remarks apply to the 



