O'JI RALLID^. 



ally be admitted. This was done wliile the female was sit- 

 ting; and as the nest had been built when the water level stood 

 low, the sudden influx of this large body of water from the 

 second pond caused a rise of several inches, so as to threaten 

 the speedy immersion and consequent destruction of the eggs. 

 This the birds seem to have been aware of, and immediately 

 took precautions against so imminent a danger ; for when 

 the gardener, upon whose veracity I can safely rely, seeing 

 the sudden rise of the water, went to look after the nest, ex- 

 pecting to find it covered and the eggs destroyed, or at least 

 forsaken by the hen, he observed, while at a distance, both 

 birds busily engaged about the brink where the nest was 

 placed; and, when near enough, he clearly perceived that they 

 were adding, with all possible dispatch, fresh materials to 

 raise the fabric beyond the level of the increased contents of 

 the pond, and that the eggs had, by some means, been re- 

 moved from the nest by the birds, and were then deposited 

 upon the grass, about a foot or more from the margin of the 

 water. He watched them for some time, and saw the nest 

 rapidly increase in height ; but I regret to add, that he did 

 not remain long enough, fearing he might create alarm, to 

 witness the interesting act of the replacing of the eggs, which 

 must have been effected shortly afterwards ; for upon his re- 

 turn, in less than an hour, he found the hen quietly sitting 

 upon them in the newly raised nest. In a few days after- 

 wards the young Avere hatched, and, as usual, soon quitted 

 the nest and took to the water with their parents. The nest 

 ■was shown to me in sihi very soon afterwards, and I could 

 then plainly discern the formation of the new with the older 

 part of the fabric." 



The eggs are usually seven or eight in number, of a red- 

 dish white colour, thinly spotted and speckled with orange- 

 brown ; the length one inch eight lines, by one inch three 

 lines and a half in breadth. Incubation lasts three weeks, 



