262 Report of Meetings. By James Hardy. 



entered the gate nearest the railway, and proceeded along the 

 extensive park, by a drive lined nearly throughout with thriving 

 shrubs and shapely trees, among which the yew, perhaps from its 

 withstanding the influence of the sea breeze undamaged, pre- 

 dominated, producing at times rather a sombre effect. The 

 thick screen of trees along the sea- side effectually masks the 

 extent of the grounds, which are fully two and a half miles in 

 length, and of ample breadth. The two mansions — the old and 

 the new, the newest having the oldest look — are placed in the most 

 sheltered and most ornamental position amidst the woods, which 

 are mostly of the age of the older house. Preparations are being 

 made for the erection of a new mansion, which will supersede 

 both. 



The chief characteristic of the pleasure grounds here is the 

 ponds, nine acres in extent. The tenacious clayey soil, and the 

 general flatness of the land, are adapted to the retention of mois- 

 ture, which is supplied from inland springs. Forty acres of 

 shrubberies and sheltering trees encircle the winding series of 

 ponds, which, when viewed from end to end, appear as a con- 

 tinuous, calm, broad river. They are pretty free from weeds. 

 Ranunculus aquatilis and a Callitriche were noted. In summer 

 they are liable to be covered with a "green glit" — perhaps a 

 Conferva. There is a fine umbrageous tree-covered island for 

 the water fowl breeding in and retreating to. The bright flower 

 borders, and the varied foliage and forms of the shrubs and 

 trees, with the sweeping expanses of closely-cut, tender-hued 

 green grass, and the mansion in the distance partly screened, 

 together with the charm of water " gently stirred, and peopled 

 with multitudes of water fowl, some of them of gay colouring 

 and singular appearance, formed a peculiarly charming picture, 

 which was quite unexpected in a situation so close to a coast 

 swept by fierce blighting winds. 



The water fowls preserved here are the following, as the 

 names were taken down, without attempt at exact specification : 

 — Geese. — Asiatic, American, Chinese, trumpeter, bernicle. 

 Bucks. — Meadow (hatched by incubators), sheldrakes, eider, 

 brown -headed teal. There are also coots and water-hens. Dab- 

 chicks are scarce. In stormy weather in winter two hundred 

 wild ducks at a tima will take refuge here. As winter birds, 

 golden-eye ducks, "black teals," "white teals with yellow 



