282 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



their nuptial arrangements, and there are always a number of 

 grey-shouldered bachelors which congregate together. I have 

 spent many pleasant hours in studying the habits of the 

 Wigeon in this locality, which is the favourite rendezvous of 

 those birds which feed upon the grass of Kockliffe salt marsh 

 in the night-time. I visited this lough on the 3d of March 

 1890, when the snow which had fallen the previous day was 

 lying in wreaths on the fellsides which bounded the western 

 horizon. Long before the highroad was left behind, we heard 

 the shrill whistle of the 'lough ducks/ and on crossing the 

 fields which lay between us and the lough, it was soon apparent 

 that the Wigeon were abundantly represented. The surface of 

 the lough was partly invested with a thin covering of ice, upon 

 which a few couples of Wild Duck were resting, looking rather 

 disconsolate. A few square yards of open water were crowded 

 with Wild- fowl, Goldeneyes, Tufted Ducks, Pochards, but 

 principally Wigeon. Males in full dress made up the greater 

 portion of the company, but a good many were females. As we 

 watched them, they were joined by a flock of Black-headed 

 Gulls, whose spotless dress formed a striking contrast to the 

 Carrion Crow which just then croaked across the lough. Many 

 of the Gulls had already donned their dark hoods, owing to the 

 mildness of the previous fortnight. The Mallard were dotted 

 up and down the ice, the glossy heads and white rings of the 

 males distinguishing them easily from their brown companions. 

 All this time the Wigeon were whistling shrilly in the open 

 water, and when I crossed the little 'runner' which feeds 

 the lough, I disturbed another lot of Wigeon, chiefly grey- 

 shouldered drakes : some of them were resting in a ploughed 

 field, and others on the grass at the lough edge. They rose and 

 again alighted on the ice, but their movement startled the 

 Mallard, and away they went with many a ' quaark ' and many 

 a responsive quack. The Wigeon nearest to us lifted, another 

 flock followed their example, and then another; the Diving 

 Ducks followed suit. Soon the only Duck left upon the water 

 was a Tufted Drake : it swam steadily towards the opposite 

 shore ; but before the bank was gained a fresh sense of in- 

 security smote upon him, and he too lifted and wheeled round 



