278 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



for they nearly always build near the water. And when 

 they arrive at the feeding-grounds, rich with snails, grubs, 

 grasshoppers, slugs, worms, and small shell-fish, the young 

 spend their time in feeding, and the old birds fly overhead, 

 when not feeding too, calling loudly upon their young, and 

 directing them when an enemy is on their trail ; for the 

 harrier and crow, the rat and stoat, often prowl through 

 the rushy brakes that the young frequent in search of 

 a supper; and sometimes on a moonlit night. you may 

 see these white birds flying and turning over a rond, and 

 filling the peaceful night for hours with their anxious cries, 

 for the voracious stoat and rat love to work by moon- 

 light. And your heart is full of pity for the heart-broken 

 parents and the innocent youngsters crouching low in some 

 pool or hollow, fearing every moment to see the sharp, erect 

 ears and glittering eyes of their tiger-like foe ; and often a 

 short child-like shriek tells you one of the flock has gone 

 for ever, ere its life had well begun. And as they batten 

 and fatten on the succulent life of the swamps, they soon 

 grow as large as their parents; and then, before they can 

 fly, and when they can fly they do not make use of their 

 newly-acquired powers before danger, but will squat low, 

 as they did in childhood, so powerful is the force of habit. 

 And, indeed, at such seasons they seem peculiar, and let 

 you approach them pretty closely, merely running along 

 and pecking at the ground, as though feeding; for they fend 

 for themselves before they can fly, and at times the old 

 couple leave them when they can find their own food, and 

 before they can use their wings. 



Directly they get full use of their powerful wings, they go 

 to the marshlands, preferring a grazing marsh, for that is 

 generally dry ; and they always choose a dry marsh to 

 sleep upon, as it is also rich in food chosen by the birds, 

 and animal remains. There they spend their young life 

 by day and night with some old birds, though at times 

 a few of the young wander farther afield into a turnip- 



