214 THE RECLUSE. 



If we make onr way by the starlight of the early 

 morning to such a forest-pond as this, arriving silently 

 and cautiously at its margin, before the light of the 

 advancing dawn has yet struggled into the little in closure, 

 and take our station behind the shelter of a leafy bush, 

 we shall discern that the spot is instinct with life. A 

 loud clanging cry is uttered, like the note of a child's 

 trumpet, which is immediately taken up in response from 

 the opposite side of the pool. Then a whirring of wings, 

 and much splashing of water. More of the loud clangours, 

 and more splashing ; and now the increasing light enables 

 us to discern a dozen or a score of tiny black objects 

 sitting on the surface, or hurrying to and fro. They 

 look like the tiniest of ducks, but are jet black ; some are 

 sitting on the points of the projecting snags; and, by their 

 erect attitude, we readily recognise that they are grebes. 



Now it is light enough to see clearly, and the suspici- 

 ous birds do not yet seem to be aware of our presence. 

 Yonder, on the branch of a half-submerged tree, is a great 

 dark mass, and a little bird sitting in it ; it must surely 

 be her nest. We must examine it. 



Yet, stay ! What is that serpent-like object that so 

 quietly sits on yonder overhanging bough ? Is it indeed 

 a black snake reposing, with elevated neck, upon the 

 horizontal limb ? It moves ! It is a bird ! The lithe and 

 slender neck is thrown round, and we see the head and 

 beak of a bird, which begins to preen and arrange the 

 plumage of a black body, which is squatted close to the 

 bough. Mark that sudden start ! The neck is elevated 



