98 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



in the entire country, and justly famous from 

 an ornithological point of view one that is well 

 worth repeated visits by every lover of birds. 

 It consists of a long and narrow lake of fresh 

 water running parallel with the coast, and separ- 

 ated from the sea only by a strip of sand and 

 shingle about a couple of hundred yards in 

 width. It is more than two miles in length, 

 and considerably over two hundred acres in 

 extent. Three small streams fall into it down 

 the adjoining coombes, whilst there is no visible 

 outfall to the sea. The western half of this 

 curious lake is the deepest, the eastern portion 

 being greatly overgrown with reeds, which are 

 regularly cut and harvested, and used princi- 

 pally for thatching purposes. There are, however, 

 several reed and rush beds on the margin of 

 the deeper portions. The ley teems with various 

 coarse fish, especially perch, pike, and eels, and 

 the hotel situated near the centre of the long 

 stretch of sand is a great resort of the angling 

 fraternity. Being carefully preserved by the owner 

 or lessee, and offering not only abundance of 

 cover but great seclusion, there can be little 

 wonder that the ley is a favoured resort of many 



