At Home with a Hell -Diver 



247 



ming across to the other, all seemingly forgetful of the rest of the family. 

 Finally they disappeared into the rushes, and I continued my course around 

 the pond. 



From the alders at the far end a strange call floated out; 'wup-pup-pup- 

 caow-caow-caow-cao-o-o-o-o-ow' the note sounded to me, and was sometimes 

 answered by its mate calling 'cuck-cuck-cuck-oo-oo-00-,' and I knew that 

 another pair of Grebes had chosen this secluded pond for their home. Careful 

 search revealed only a deserted or incompleted nest, and I continued until I 

 came to a weedy stretch. Examining it with binoculars, before entering, as it 

 was quite open, I espied another of these elusive water-witches upon its nest. 

 Unfortunately it saw me at the same time and rose, quickly and deftly pulling 

 fragments from the rim and piling them over the eggs. It was the work of 



ASSISTING THE YOUNG FROM THE SHELL 



