56 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



under hens, and thus obtain an ornamental addition to the 

 denizens of their farmyard. On an island in the old moat 

 surrounding Cooling Castle, I have seen large numbers of wild 

 Sheld-Ducks, attracted by a number of pinioned birds of the 

 same species, sitting about quite fearless of the passers-by along 

 the road within thirty or forty yards of them. But a much 

 more interesting nesting-site than the burrows, showing as it 

 does the adaptability of these birds to novel circumstances, is 

 supplied them through the preservation of Hares for coursing. 

 In order to give the Hare either a refuge or a chance of escape, 

 long drain-pipes have been laid in some of the higher banks, or 

 in any conveniently raised mounds in the meadows. These 

 pipes, which measure from six to nine inches in diameter, are 

 generally about eighteen feet long, open at both ends, but with a 

 bend in the centre, so that one cannot look straight through 

 them. Sometimes there are shorter ones, which run straight in 

 with one end blocked. It is these blocked-up pipes which the 

 Sheld-Ducks of the district more particularly favour. Of three 

 nests which I examined during the spring of 1906, two were 

 made in blocked-up pipes, at the end farthest away from the 

 light ; and the third one was made in one of the pipes open at 

 both ends with an angle in the centre. The blocked-up end of 

 the pipes is generally not very far from the surface of the 

 ground, and with a little ingenuity or perseverance it is generally 

 possible to make an opening near to the nest. The first nest I 

 found on May 12th had fourteen eggs in it, three of which I 

 blew, and found to be quite fresh. They were laid right on the 

 bare earthenware pipe, with no down or feathers about them. 

 This nest was quite close to a shepherd's house, where the birds 

 have nested for several years in succession, although the shep- 

 herd often takes a clutch of eggs from it for his employers or 

 friends. The remaining eggs of this clutch were taken by him 

 a few days later for the same purpose. The second nest was in 

 a pipe situated in a secluded part of the marsh. The bird was 

 sitting on this nest when I found it, while its mate was standing 

 in a meadow some hundred yards away. Looking in at the open 

 mouth of the pipe I could see the white breast of the bird as it 

 sat on the eggs at the far end. As it caught sight of me it 

 started hissing somewhat after the manner of a goose. A few 



