i6 



August i6th. Saw old Dabchick on nest this 

 morning; young one some way off. Some time after 

 saw both old birds off, but near nest, which contained 

 one egg, which was uncovered. When I was alone 

 the birds did nothing, but when I came later with a 

 friend (Mr. I. Burkill) the bird on the nest covered 

 the egg and left. 



August iSt/i. Dabchick now sitting. 



August 2\th. Four eggs in nest, now bufif- 

 coloured. 



Aug7ist 2^ih. Nest swamped and deserted ; there 

 has been much rain last night and for a day or two 

 before. Nevertheless the bird was not raising the 

 nest yesterday. Young bird still present. 



August 26tk. All three Dabchicks still present. 

 When the two old birds were together, the bigger one 

 began to carry some weed. 



August z^th. Yesterday saw both Dabchicks 

 carrying weed to a new nest in the rushes, nearer the 

 shore than before. 



September 20th. The Dabchicks, after making 

 several nests, have at last laid in one made in the 

 clump of buUrushes, but at the side of this opposite 

 to the last nest. One egg visible. 



September 22nd. Bird sitting to-day ; young one 

 still present. 



Septeviber 23r^. Saw hen on nest ; she got up, 

 covered and then uncovered the eggs, and lay down on 

 them again, puffing out her breast-feathers to cover 

 them. The smaller bird, which is certainly the cock, 

 bringing material. 



Septertiber 2^th. After a wet night found three 

 eggs exposed and deserted ; the old birds were not 

 to be seen, though the young one was there. The 

 nest gradually sank. 



