122 EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



adopted in various parts of Lincolnshire, but on a better principle. The 

 machine consists of a piece of wood turning on a pivot, and precipitating 

 the Rabbit treading on it by its own weight to the bottom. 



To-day I have been for my first spring observation -walk as I call it, 

 not that I ever allow myself to walk without taking notice of facts 

 presenting themselves connected with nature, but for some years past I 

 have always at this season been in the habit of following two or three 

 times in the week one particular track, which, from the advantages it 

 affords for observing the various changes from winter to spring, is a favourite 

 haunt with me. My route lies across some fields to one of the prettiest 

 brook streams this county possesses, and where in the winter season I 

 occasionally shoot a Wild Duck or Wigeon. At this time of the year, 

 however, one cares not to kill; but, laying aside all those destructive pro- 

 pensities so inherent in our nature, we regard the feathered tribe, even 

 Partridges, Pheasants, and Wild Ducks with a friendly interest, and almost 

 wonder how we can at other times wage such determined war against 

 them, and call it sport. 



About a mile from home a steep-hanging bank with trees of various 

 kinds, and plenty of underwood and brushwood overlooks the brook; and 

 as this spinney faces the east, it is a place of great resort for all sorts 

 of birds, which always prefer woods with eastern or south-eastern aspects, 

 as they have in them all the morning and much of the midday sun. At 

 this place I have generally first noticed the arrivals of the summer birds; but 

 it is yet too early for many of them to come over. Under this bank, along 

 the brook side, my dog had great fun with the numerous Water-hens 

 which inhabit the thick segs hereabout; it was very amusing to watch her 

 come up to a spot where one of these birds was hiding itself underneath 

 the bank; she would stand for some time as if in doubt whether or not 

 to plunge into the water after it, or to try and scratch through the earth 

 and reeds; but her deliberation generally ended with a plunge, invariably 

 without success, the bird diving immediately it heard the splash. I had 

 here a good opportunity of watching one of these birds as it dived up the 

 stream close by the side of the bank for some distance; and as the water 

 was as clear as crystal, I could see very distinctly the ^roodus operandi.' 

 It propels itself almost entirely by great exertion of the wings; it appeared 

 a very great efibrt to it to keep beneath the surface, and the legs, though 

 they did go through the movement of swimming, did not seem to assist 

 its progress much, but probably helped to keep its course straight. You 

 may find plenty of Water-hens' nests along this brook in May or sometimes 

 earlier; they generally lay six or seven eggs, though I have often known 

 more, and once met with a nest with fourteen eggs, which 1 have no 

 doubt were the produce of two birds. Their nests are more frequently 



