100 -BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



their harsh twanging note sounding at intervals 

 from near and far. Others may be watched 

 gracefully walking about the banks, daintily 

 picking here and there, or stealthily running 

 towards the water as we approach them. The 

 scene here becomes specially animated when 

 the broods are hatched, and the surface of the 

 water is sprinkled in all directions with the tiny 

 balls of black down that represent the young 

 chicks. Their gambols and movements are most 

 amusing as they swim and dive, attended by 

 their parents. Many hundreds of these chicks 

 must fall victims to the voracious pike, with 

 which the ley is plentifully stocked. Then by 

 way of variety, especially in early spring, pairs 

 of Mallards may be seen here and there floating 

 amongst the short spear-like reeds or in the 

 open water far from shore; whilst still more 

 frequently an old drake swims about by himself, 

 or rises with startling haste almost from our 

 feet, the ducks being hidden away upon their 

 nests. Here and there, also, a drake Tufted Duck 

 may be observed. This species is a common 

 visitor to the ley in winter, and there can be 

 little or no doubt that a few pairs remain to 



