.MR. W. G. CLARKE ON'' BIRD-I.IFE OF THE MERES. 75 3 
it appears more probable that the birds were of the latter 
species. Their diving was the prettiest I have seen They 
raised themselves on the surface of the water, on their feet, 
and then jumped up and took a real “ header ” just in the 
same spot, making hardly a ripple. They did not travel long 
distances under water-probably because they were not 
disturbed— but came up almost in the same place that they 
went down. 
Garganey and Teal I have seen on but few occasions, 
rhere were three Garganey on Ringmere on April 2nd, 1904. 
and four on the pond between this mere and Langmere. 
Both pai ties lose, and as we subsequently saw seven on Lang- 
mtre they were probably the same birds. There were also 
seven on Ringmere on November 5th of the same year. The 
oniy other occasion on which 1 have seen Garganey was by 
the round pond at Langmere on April 13th. 190O, when a 
dozen sat in a row on the edge of the water preening their 
feathers, and through field-glasses appeared extremely 
beautiful. 
The Swans that spasmodically appear on the meres are 
probably semi-domesticated, though it is not known whence 
they come. The only birds I have ever seen on the Punch 
Bowl were a pair of Swans on March 22nd. 1908. and a pair 
of Waterhens on September 4th of the same year. During 
the winter of 1904-5 there were twenty-one Swans on Fowl- 
mere and fifteen on June 9th, 1908, while smaller numbers 
have been seen on many other occasions. 
Langmere looked a fine sheet of water on April 13th. 1906, 
with the long basin full and two big round pools south of the 
bluff. By the westernmost of these, preening their feathers 
on the margin, were two Ruddy Sheld-duck which I examined 
with field-glasses before they got up. When alarmed, they 
came flying towards me at no great height, and went over 
my head, uttering harsh cries of “ kraa. kraa,” apparently of 
menace, and after circling round once settled down by the 
long pool. I stealthily climbed the bluff and hiding behind 
a pine again examined the Ruddy Sheld-duck carefully. 
When subsequently disturbed they once more came down the 
