Bird Life in Dutch Marshes 257 



declared that tlie bird did not nest tliere, wliicli I d()ii])t ; 

 but in June the young birds would have proba})ly flown. 

 I should think tlie Bittern would be very difficult to locate 

 from its " boom," which appears to have a ventriloquial 

 effect. 



The Bearded Tit seems to be only a rare winter visitor. 

 Xor could I liear an)i:hing of tlie Sliort-eared Owl. 



A Magpie was nesting in a poplar just opposite the 

 keepers cottage. 



The Cxreat Crested (irebe is fairly common, and I fancy 

 the pike must take toll of tlie young ones. I liave never 

 seen more than one young bird following the parent. The 

 keeper talks of another Grebe, or " Loem," breeding here — 

 probably the Eared Grebe. We saw in tlie distance one 

 day a (Ti'ebe, not a Great Crested, and too big for a I^ittle 

 Grebe ; but I could not understand what he said about it, 

 and it was too far off to make it out. 



The reeling note of the Grasshopper-warbler may be 

 constantly heard. It is known here as the " Schneider," 

 which means, I presume, " Tailor." If this is because of 

 the resemblance of its note to a sewing-machine, it would 

 seem to point to the bird's comparatively recent occurrence. 



The Stork, though popularly supposed to be a welcome 

 guest in every Dutch village, if not in every house, is not 

 by any means so widely distributed, and it is quite possible 

 to travel a very long way and never see a sign of one. 



In the beautiful and extensive grounds of the gentleman 

 before mentioned, there is a nest on the top of the usual 



17 



