THE COMMON WILD DUCK 203 



that can be used for pigs are used, the others are 

 left to complete their rotting ; generally they are 

 collected in heaps and covered with earth, for the 

 stench from them is horrible. But the ducks have 

 a different opinion on the matter ; for they find the 

 heaps out, work into them, and feed all the time 

 they are allowed to do so. 



In Sussex and in the Weald numbers of old 

 orchards exist, with trout-streams running through 

 them ; the banks are high, because the floods cut 

 through in the winter-time, driving all before them ; 

 centuries of flood-water have made deep water-courses. 



Now, although the trees are covered with moss 

 and lichens, they bear wonderful crops of the finest 

 fruit we have seen, the lower branches of some of the 

 trees are bowed down and touching the grass, loaded 

 with fruit. As there is not the least chance of all 

 the fruit finding a market, the principal part is made 

 into cider ; we have seen wagon-loads under the 

 trees, the fallen fruit, for it hangs until it is full ripe, 

 as it saves some of the gathering. Naturally, 

 after they have been collected in heaps for some 

 time, preparatory to being crushed and pressed for 

 cider, a lot of them go rotten ; the Wild Ducks find 

 these out and feed on them, so do the Blackbirds. 

 When the night falls, the Herons are in the stream 

 working up the trout, and the ducks are in the 

 orchard cider-making, as the natives term it ; that is, 

 feeding voraciously on the decayed fruit. They 

 do not all get away again, for this weakness of 

 theirs, leaning over to rotten apples and potatoes, 



