286 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
firfl appearance coincides with the thawing of the 
fwamps, when they are very lean. The autumnal, 
or the feafon of their return with their young, is 
from the middle of Augufl to the middle of 0£lo- 
ber. Thofe which are taken in this latter feafon, 
when the frofts ufually begin, are preferred in their 
feathers, and left to be frozen for the frefli provi- 
fions of the winter ftock. The feathers conftitute 
an article of commerce, and are fent into Eng- 
land.’^ 
