120 BRITISH BIRDS. 



wild fowl therein : 3000 Mallards have been taken at a draught." Mr. John 

 Cordeaux says, in his 'Birds of the Humber District' (p. 163), "The most 

 captured at Ashby in any one year was in the winter of 1834-35, 4287 ducks 

 and drakes." 



In the ' Morning Herald ' appeared a letter containing the following : — 



" Black Sea, H.M.S. . Expedition to the Crimea, Sept. 9, 1854. Just 



before 4 o'clock a water-spout, or what seemed to be one, was reported ahead 

 at about nine miles distant, and all hands remained admiring the immense 

 height, size, and dark appearance of the phenomenon, which moved rapidly 

 to the south. But our wonder and astonishment were increased tenfold when 

 a nearer approach showed us that it was not a water-spout, but a flight of 

 Wild Ducks in countless myriads. The great mass, like a dark cloud, was 

 situated at an immense altitude, from which it gradually lessened away 

 towards the sea in a point of 20 or 30 feet diameter. After this, many 

 flights of Geese, Storks, and Starlings passed over the ships, going south like 

 black clouds." 



Lewes, in his ' Studies in Animal Life ' (p. 29), states that " under the 

 eyelids of Geese and Ducks may be constantly found a parasitic worm (of 

 the Trematode order), which naturalists have christened Monostomum muta- 

 hile. Single mouth changeable. This worm brings forth living young in the 

 likeness of active Infusoria." 



The Wild Duck appears to decrease in England. As an article of food 

 it varies greatly ; some birds are hardly eatable. It was Madame Victoire 

 who, to quiet a conscientious scruple, requested a bishop to decide Avhether a 

 particular description of waterfowl could be properly eaten during Lent. 

 He gravely informed her that in such cases " the bird should be carved upon 

 a cold dish, and that, unless the gravy congealed within a quarter of an 

 hour, it might be eaten at all seasons without sin." This was in the reign of 

 Louis XV. (' Biographical Essays,' by A.. Hayward, Q.C., vol. ii. p. 149.) 



In old times W^hittlesea Mere was famous for its Wildfowl- and Snipe- 

 shooting. As it has now become a thing of the past, the engraving of the 



