288 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



our streams. I have flushed a Wild Duck in a green lane not far 

 from the Usk, and from her movements, as she declined leaving 

 the place, allowing me almost to catch her, I am certain she had 

 a nest in the hedge there, but not wishing her to forsake it, I did 

 not further disturb her. A great many breed in the bogs about 

 Dovynnock, and the large bog called the Trath, near Brecon, is a 

 favourite place for them. Some years since, happening to be on 

 the highest point of the hill near Merthyr Cynog, and walking 

 over a small bog, an old duck suddenly rose near me, and looking 

 down I saw a young one, quite grown and in full feather, squatting 

 in a little "form" in the reeds, like a hare, its neck drawn back, 

 its head resting on its back, and its tail up, evidently endeavouring 

 to make itself look as small as possible. I put my hand cautiously 

 down, and easily caught it, when it seemed all at once to develop 

 into a full-grown, fully fledged Wild Duck, in excellent condition ; 

 so I and my old retriever, who evidently considered something 

 unusual was up, beat the bog carefully, and before we left he 

 brought me five more full-grown young ducks, which with the 

 one I had caught myself, made no slight weight to walk down to 

 the shooting-box with — two miles off and more. To this day 

 I cannot make out why they did not fly, as it was the first week 

 in August. The Wild Duck is on the increase here, and I account 

 for it from the fact that so many young birds are too strong on the 

 wing to approach on the 1st August (the " close time" for wildfowl 

 in the county being from the 1st March to that date). Perhaps it 

 would be better to make it the 1st February, for if the weather is 

 mild the ducks are generally paired during this month. 



Shoveller, Anas clypeata. — Very rare. The only instance 

 that has reached me of its occurrence here is one killed on the 

 Wye, near Hay. 



Pintail, Anas acuta. — The same remarks apply to this as to 

 the preceding bird. One has been killed on the Wye, near Hay, 

 and, with the last-named bird, is now, I believe, in the possession 

 of Mr. Baskerville, of Clyro Court, who has kindly supplied me 

 with the above information. I also, about twelve years since, saw 

 a Pintail on the Gludy Lake, near Brecon, in company with a 

 small flock of Wild Ducks. 



Wigeon, Anas jwnelope. — Common in the winter on Llangorse 

 Lake, where in hard weather it congregates in numbers, but is 

 scarce elsewhere in the county. Occasionally a few visit the 



