2.52 Pictures of Bird Life 



the "ineer"' in Avliich I liad worked for a wliole week 

 witliout seeing" one. On my first A'isit two, I think, were 

 noticed in the immediate neighbonrhood. One of these was 

 quartering o^'er some meadows, wliicli were being mown — 

 on the look out, probably, for Godwit's eggs, or else young 

 Godwits. laid bare by the mowers. At any rate, several 

 Godwits were fiying in an excited and alarmed state. One 

 of tliem I noticed perching on a gate-post, as a Redshank 

 will sometimes do in similar circumstances. Doubtless the 

 ^larsh-harrier would nest much more often in a place so 

 suitable for its habits ; but too many Harriers would prob- 

 ably mean too few^ Ducks — at any rate, that is the opinion 

 of the old keeper, who, I understood, had killed no less 

 than seventeen in one season, lender the circumstances their 

 comparative scarcity is easily accounted for. 



Thougli Coots and AVild Ducks are to be met with in 

 numbers indiscriminately all ()\ er tlie " meer," the other birds 

 breeding there keep Aery nuicli to the neighbourhood of the 

 particular part selected by tliem. any intrusion into wliicli 

 causes a great commotion and excitement. Tlie Spoonbills 

 and Herons fly off at once, and when sitting liard leave 

 their nests Avith some reluctance : but tlie (tuIIs and Terns, 

 Avitli harsh cries and angry protests, flock round the tres- 

 passer as soon as he approaches tlieir nesting-place ; nor do 

 thev cease tlieir scolding for a moment as loim" as he remains. 

 He is made to understand immistakably that he has no 

 business there, and that his presence is deeply resented. 

 I haA'e been sometimes fairly mobbed by ]51ack Terns in 



