"OLD KITTIWAKE." 191 



night work on the marshes were obtained by 

 his cymbal-nets. Wild birds were brought 

 down by decoys, and when the former came 

 within the province of the net it was rapidly 

 pulled over and the game secured. For the most 

 part only small birds were taken in this way. 



Numbers of Mallard and Teal bred on the 

 marshes in summer, and there was also a 

 colony of beautifully plumaged Shelldrakes. 

 In August and September the old man 

 captured immense quantities of "flappers" — 

 plump wild ducks, too young as yet to take 

 wing. These were either caught in the pools 

 or chased into nets set to intercept them. From 

 these Kittiwake derived an important part of 

 his revenue, as they invariably brought good 

 prices in the market. 



It may not be a matter of common knowledge 

 that there is a short period in each year in 

 which fully matured wild ducks are unable to 

 fly. The Mallard especially is an early breeder, 

 and soon after the brown duck begins to sit the 

 male moults the whole of its flight feathers. 

 So sudden and simultaneous is this process that 

 for six weeks in summer the usually handsome 

 drake is quite incapable of flight; and it is 



