MAX-LARD. 
109 
substances. When winter ensues, and their resting- 
place is perhaps frozen, they have to seek for water 
in the springs and ditches which do not freeze, and 
in the rivers which are generally partially open, as- 
sembling in small parties or flocks ; but in severe 
seasons they are often driven to great extremity, 
for we do not think that tho individuals belonging, 
as it were, to a district, migrate far, or seek the 
coast. In a locality not more than twelve miles 
distant, we have rather seen an increase than the 
reverse at such times ; and in one or two winters 
of unusual severity which have occurred within the 
last twenty years, where almost every pool or hole 
was either entirely blown up by snow or frozen, 
we have seen the wild duck (generally so shy) so 
reduced as to seek for any greener spot in a field, 
or tho least open part of a ditch, and, if disturbed 
from these, merely fly around or to a short dis- 
tance, until the cause of annoyance had been re- 
moved, their bodies being at the same time com- 
pletely emaciated. Upon the sea-coast there is 
always a considerable number to be found during 
winter and in severe weather, but bearing no pro- 
portion to the large flocks of widgeon and some of 
the true sea-duclcs ; these we conceive to have 
been either birds which have migrated from ano- 
ther country, or those which belonged to the dis- 
trict in immediate vicinity to the coast, and they 
have resorted to tho sea more as a resting-place 
than for food, preferring at all times to seek it in- 
