The Domestic Life of the Dabchick 



to it, and burrow in its long silky flank-plumage 

 under the wing, where it would rest contentedly 

 on the back of the old one. I found that for 

 about the first week they spent most of their 

 time in this position, the pretty little heads 

 appearing just at the parent's shoulders as she 

 swam about with her burden. I say "she," for 

 the hen appeared to do most of the carrying ; 

 but it is difficult to make out the sexes of 

 dabchicks, the plumage being the same in both, 

 and the size differing so little that it is hard 

 to be certain whether one is looking at the 

 male or the female if they are not together. 

 In the case of these little friends of mine, I 

 made out the bigger bird to be the hen, and, 

 as I have said, it certainly seemed to be the 

 nurse, while the other did the hunting. The 

 game provided, for about the first fortnight at 

 least, was fresh-water shrimps and dragon-flies, 

 fish being apparently deemed too indigestible 

 for nursery diet. The good sense of the parents 

 was often shown in these feeding operations. 



Once I saw the catering parent come up to the 

 nurse and give a large red dragon-fly to one of 

 the two babies which were being carried pick-a- 

 back. The little thing tried to swallow this large 

 mouthful, but could not manage it, whereupon 

 the old bird turned her head round and took 



it away. What she did with it I do not recall ; 



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