2o6 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



But, Ceres, thou, behold us now ; let wild oats be their venture, 

 And let the frogs and miry bogs destroy where they do enter. 



Behold the great design, which they do now determine, 



Will make our bodies pine, a prey to crows and vermin ; 



For they do mean all fens to drain, and waters overmaster ; 



All will be dry, and we must die, 'cause Essex calves want pasture. 



Away with boats and rudders, farewell with boots and skatches. 

 No need of one or t'other — men now make better matches. 

 Stilt-makers all and tanners shall complain of this disaster ; 

 For they will make each muddy lake for Essex calves a pasture. 



The feather'd fowl have wings, to fly to other nations. 



But we have no such things to help our transportation ; 



We must give place — oh, grievous case — to horned beast and 



cattle. 

 Except that we can all agree to drive them out by battle. 



Wherefore let us all entreat our ancient water nurses. 

 To show their power so great as t' help to drain their purses, 

 And send us good old Captain Flood to lead us out to battle. 

 The twopenny Jack ^ with scales on 's back will drive out all the 

 cattle. 



THE COMMON WILD DUCK. 



(Anas bescas.) 



Male. — The bill reddish -yellow, tinged with 

 green ; iris brown ; head and upper part of the 

 neck deep glossy green, with a narrow white collar ; 

 lower part of neck and a portion of the breast dark 

 chestnut ; fore part of back brown ; hind part of 

 back black ; scapulars grey and brown, very finely 

 waved ; wings brownish-grey ; the beauty-spot, or 

 speculum, purple and bluish-green, margined before 

 and behind with black and white. Lower parts 

 greyish-white, very finely waved with grey ; tail 



■* Small pike were sold for twopence in those days. 



