MAY. WILD DUCK TEAL — TERN. 225 



Everywhere on the lakes are broods of young wild 

 ducks, either swimming in close order behind their 

 mothers, or all huddled together in a heap on some 

 little island or projecting point of land. 



As we were out driving the other day, a teal 

 came fluttering out of the dry ditch by the roadside, 

 and for above a hundred yards continued flying and 

 running almost under the horse's feet. I found 

 that she had a number of young ones unable to get 

 over the wall, so we helped them into the adjoining 

 wood. They were a long distance from the water, 

 and had very rough ground to pass over to reach it, 

 I remember exactly a similar circumstance happen- 

 ing to me in Ross-shire, when I also saved the lives 

 of a young brood of teal by lending them a helping 

 hand. These instances prove that, notwithstanding 

 the instinct of birds, which generally enables them to 

 keep their young out of harm's way, they occasionally 

 get them into a situation not only of difficulty, but 

 where any dog or mischievous boy coming along 

 might destroy the whole brood. At every ebb tide 

 now, the terns fish with great perseverance for the 

 sandeels on which they almost entirely feed. 



The month of May this year appears to have 

 quite changed its character ; instead of being warm 

 and genial, we have nothing but cold and cutting east 

 winds ; and the mountains have lost but very little of 



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