192 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



probable that at this period of its ground exist- 

 ence the assumption of the duck's plumage is 

 a great aid to protection. 



The Shelldrakes were the handsomest of the 

 wild-fowl on the marsh. A colony occupied 

 a number of disused rabbit-burrows on a raised 

 plateau overlooking the bay. The ducks were 

 bright chestnut, white, and black, and laid from 

 eight to a dozen creamy eggs. As these really 

 handsome ducks brought large prices for stock- 

 ing ornamental waters, Kit ti wake used to 

 collect the eggs and hatch them out under 

 hens in his turf cottage. This was quite a suc- 

 cessful experiment up to a certain point ; but 

 the ducks, immediately they were hatched, 

 seemed to be able to smell the salt water, and 

 would cover miles to gain it. With all the 

 old man's watchfulness, the downy ducklings 

 sometimes succeeded in reaching their loved 

 briny element ; and, once in the sea, they were 



never seen again. 



Among the strange birds which the old 

 man had known as resident on the Marsh were 

 various of the rarer Sea-swallows, and especially 

 he was wont to talk of the curious Ruffs and 

 Reeves. He had many marvellous stories of 



