46 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



in pairs, striking and conspicuous objects upon the green 

 meadows. Pairs of noisy Mallards rise from ditches and fleets 

 everywhere. They are, of course, the commonest and most 

 obvious of the species present. But almost as common at this 

 time of the year, and perhaps more striking — and certainly 

 more interesting — are the Shovelers. There will still be Mallard, 

 Wigeon, and Teal — possibly many of them migrants — collected 

 in large flocks, which will rise and fly away in scattered strings. 

 And you may have the added interest of seeing odd pairs of 

 Wigeon and Teal, and of disturbing, as I have during the last 

 two years, a small party of Garganey, or half a dozen Pochard, 

 male and female, easily distinguishable as they fly. 



In dealing with my notes of these birds more in detail, I will 

 take first — of the breeding species, or possible breeding species 

 — those which are least likely to become included in the latter 

 category. As far as my own observations go, the Tufted Duck 

 at present gives me the least evidence of nesting in the district. 

 Up to the year 1903 my only notes of this species are in the 

 months of October and November — generally, as I have indicated, 

 in small parties of from three to half a dozen birds, put up from 

 the quiet open spaces of water amongst the reeds and flags of 

 the fleets. But in 1904 I have a note of a pair disturbed on 

 March 14th ; and in 1905 and 1906 I have notes of pairs seen 

 as late as April 24th, at which date Mallards' eggs may be found 

 hard sat. This bird is not distinctively known to the shepherds, 

 and I am therefore inclined to think that it has only recently 

 commenced to frequent the district in the spring. And it is 

 not unlikely, considering its spread as a nesting bird in various 

 parts of England, that it may presently stay, in such a suitable 

 locality as this, throughout the breeding season. 



The Common Teal is often enough seen all through the 

 winter. But I have also notes of pairs of the birds as late as 

 April 17th and 24th, in different years. This gives some 

 countenance to the shepherds' repeated assertions that they 

 have found this bird nesting, though not during the last three 

 or four years. The Teal is a bird thoroughly well known to, 

 them, and I am inclined to think that the statement they make 

 of its having nested may be believed. A mob of these small 

 Ducks, disturbed in September of the present year (1906), 



