194
A VISIT TO AN ESSEX GULLERY.
said they bred there, as they do more or less abundantly on most of
the flatter parts of the Essex coast; and soon afterwards we came
across a nest containing two perfectly fresh eggs—the beginning, no
doubt, of a second brood. It was in a dry open spot, though near a
ditch, and was so well concealed among the short grass, which closed
over it, that we should never have found it had not the old bird
flown off. Within a couple of yards was a skylark's nest with three
eggs.
Proceeding further, we shortly reached the edge of a large marshy
pool with reedy banks, known as the Joyce's Head Fleet. Upon
this we embarked in a boat with the keepers. At one end of the
pool was a large assembly of coots, numbering considerably over 100,
and among the reeds we saw several of their nests containing eggs.
As we advanced we approached one of the smaller nesting-colonies
of the black-headed gulls, which was upon a small boggy island, some
five or six yards across, and thickly over-grown with rank nightshade.
Here were about a dozen gulls' nests—substantial structures, built of
reed-stems outside and lined with small tufts of grass. None were
placed actually upon the ground, but all were resting on the night-
shade and reeds. Several of the nests were empty, but others con-
tained one egg each and one held two. They were only slightly
incubated. While we were at them, the old birds—locally known as
"cobs"—were very noisy overhead.
Upon the same island, the keepers showed us the nest of a "dun-
bird" (that is, a pochard), well hidden among the reeds and night-
shade. The young birds had left it a week or two, but the fragments
of egg-shells and the down, still remaining in the nest, clearly showed
to what bird it had belonged. The eggs of this species are of a pale
greenish-buff, and the down is of a greyish-black, with obscure white
centres. It is readily distinguished from that of any other species,
except the tufted duck, than which it is slightly browner. We are not
aware that the pochard has been before recorded as breeding on the
Essex coast (at least, of late years), and the following facts, told to
us by the keepers, are, therefore, of considerable interest. Two
years ago, that is in 1886, a single pair remained during summer and
bred on the marshes. The keepers were of opinion that one or
other of this pair had been wounded, and had thus been prevented
from migrating with its fellows. However this may have been, last
year five or six pairs—no doubt the offspring of the original pair—
bred on the same marshes; while this year (1888), the number has