THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 45 



record ; while the large flocks floating on the river, or standing 

 on the mud-flats a mile or more from the hard ground, are quite 

 beyond the resolving powers of the best eyes or glasses. A list, 

 therefore, of wildfowl made by a man who does not shoot, but 

 who only observes, is not likely to be by any means a com- 

 plete one. 



In my former article I already gave a provisional list of the 

 names of the Ducks observed on the waters of the estuaries of 

 this district (Zool. 1904, p. 166). Of three of the species there 

 mentioned — viz. the Pintail (Dafila acuta), the Common Scoter 

 ((Edemia nigra), and the Scaup (Fuligula marila) — my notes are 

 extremely scanty, the only observations of them being on the 

 tidal waters, and during the winter months. All my winter 

 notes of the Sheld-Duck (Tadorna cornuta) point to its being 

 resident all the year, but, during that season, confining itself to 

 the tidal waters and mud -flats. But in the winter the wild 

 weather makes the quiet waters of the fleets pleasant resting- 

 places for the birds after the buffetings of the wind in the river, 

 and a walk along their edges will generally result in the disturb- 

 ing of several strings of Mallard {Anas boscas), and most likely 

 also of Wigeon (Mareca penelope), and Teal (Nettion crecca). 

 Less common, but still sufficiently often seen at that time of the 

 year to be looked for with expectancy, are small parties of from 

 three to half a dozen of Tufted Ducks (Fuligula cristata). My 

 only notes of the Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), the Garganey 

 (Querquedula circia), and the Pochard (Fuligula ferina) are in 

 the spring and summer, and always on the inland waters of the 

 marsh. The three species which I know to nest, from having 

 handled the eggs in situ, are the Sheld-Duck, the Mallard, and 

 the Shoveler. Five others, which I hope some day to record as 

 nesting in the district, are the Common Teal, the Garganey 

 Teal, the Wigeon, the Pochard, and the Tufted Duck. The 

 shepherds of the district declare that the three first mentioned 

 of these five species are nesting birds ; but still, since I have 

 been watching the district, they have never been able to show me 

 the nests. 



In the early days of spring the marsh seems simply alive 

 with Ducks of all sorts. The mature Sheld-Ducks come in from 

 the estuaries and the mud-flats, and may be seen standing about 



