320 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



as is well known, like those of the great crested grebe, but 

 on a smaller scale. One old egger, who has found three 

 or four nests in this district, tells me " they w^ere all laid 

 in turf-decks in fleet water, and every nest had six eggs, 

 and the old bird cover her eggs up when she leave them." 



In early spring you may hear them calling each other 

 through the February mists with their soft whistling notes, 

 and if you be wise and attend the signal, you may see 

 them swimming near the shore, working up stream. I think 

 they sight their food before they dive, they seem to make 

 their dives so suddenly, giving a quick dart forward of their 

 heads when they go down, as if striking at something visible. 

 At a distance they appear to go under water at each dive. 



SEA-GULLS AND NESTS. 



