Rather more
than seventy were counted, swimming on the water near the bank or sitting
on the ice. These were the self-invited wild duck, so tame that with very
little trouble they were approached near enough for their colour and form
to be distinctly visible. The result of a look through the glasses was
something of a surprise. They were not mallard, teal, or widgeon; but
three-quarters of the number were tufted ducks, a diving-duck species,
which haunts both estuaries and fresh water, but preferably the latter. It
is a very handsome little black-and-white duck, seen in great numbers on
certain large lakes in Nottinghamshire, and has greatly increased of late
years in the county of Norfolk. But so far it has not appeared in any
numbers either on the Surrey ponds or in Middlesex, and its assembling on
this London reservoir is a remarkable proof of the tendency of wild-fowl
to increase in this country.
The cock birds were in brilliant winter plumage, with large crests, white
breasts, and white "clocks" on their wings. Some were sleeping, some
diving, and others swimming quietly. When approached, the whole flock rose
at once, and flew with arrow-like speed round the lakes and twice or
thrice back over the heads of their visitors, of whom they were not at all
shy, being used to the sight of the man who keeps the reservoirs' banks in
order.
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