96 A Day in a Laguna 
their nests. As in most kinds of birdsnesting, I have found it far 
better to go to some commanding point whence | could watch 
a marsh with my glasses from a distance and thus decide upon 
the best part to search for Herons’ nests than to tramp aimlessly 
through it on the off-chance of finding some. The essence of 
success in all such operations lies of course in keeping to the 
required direction when one leaves the higher ground and enters 
the big reeds. Marsh Harriers (Czvcus @ruginosus) abound in such 
places and as you work through the reeds they frequently rise 
from some temporary resting-place amid the beaten-down rushes. 
Owing to the cover from view given by the high reeds these hand- 
some birds often pass close by; the creamy white of their beautifully 
marked heads and the delicate tints of their ash-coloured shoulders, 
wings and tails, when thus flying in the sunlight, can hardly be 
imagined, certainly not realized, from a stuffed specimen in a 
museum. One day I saw one of these birds make a sudden 
stoop and disappear among the sparsely growing reeds within 
40 yards of me. As there were at least 2 ft. of water and the 
reeds were not at all thick, I was considerably puzzled by the 
manoeuvre and proceeded quickly towards the spot, only to find 
it had alighted in a Coot’s nest with eggs which the rightful 
proprietor had left owing to my near approach. No harm was 
done and, the Harrier having departed the Coot as quickly retook 
possession. From this it is tolerably evident that the Coots can 
protect their eggs so long as they do not leave their nests. No 
doubt the Harrier, upon seeing the Coot depart, thought the oppor- 
tunity too good to be missed and thus came within easy range of 
me and in fact did not leave until I was close to the nest. 
Purple Herons sit very close and often spring from the nest 
within a few yards of the intruder. The nests are simply collections 
of dead bulrush, the base being usually formed of last year’s growth, 
brown and withered, still standing as it grew but bent and beaten 
