SEPTEMBER 1 ON THE MARSHES 119 



other kinds of waterfowl ; the bents and rough herbage 

 that flourish in rank profusion on the inner face of the 

 sea-walls afford warm and well-sheltered nesting sites 

 for partridges; while great numbers of lapwings, red- 

 shanks, et hoc, breed on the marshes. 



On cultivated marshes, such as E Island, which 



forms the topographical subject of this sketch, very fair 

 bags of partridges are sometimes made during earlier 

 stages of the season, and the fleets and dykes usually 

 hold plenty of mallard, teal, coot, etc. ; no fewer than 

 fifty-three couple of young wild duck, or " flappers," 

 having been killed on August 12 last by five " guns " 

 working the sedges and reed-ronds with spaniels. Con- 

 taining an area of some 1600 acres of exceedingly rich 

 pasture and arable land, this minute dot on the map 

 of England faces the North Sea, and lies seven good miles 



from anywhere. E Island is only approachable 



during low tide, for the very simple and sufficient reason 

 that the road — or, rather, track — leading from the main- 

 land thereto, is beaconed out across a vast expanse of 

 treacherous sands and ooze flats, which are awash shortly 

 after half-flood of ordinary tides. A navigable tidal 

 river or creek of considerable breadth runs round three 

 sides of the island, the waterway being bordered by salt- 

 ings and mudflats, such as are beloved by many species 

 of wading birds. Of the latter, heavy toll is sometimes 

 taken by local punt-gunners and shore-shooters ; the 

 foreshores being what are known as Crown rights, and 

 therefore any man's shooting ground. 



The island boasts two human habitations, namely, a 

 quaint, but by no means picturesque, early Georgian 

 homestead, occupied by a ruddy-complexioned old farmer 



