70 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



elapsing between the chipping of the early 

 and late eggs. 



Where there are many eggs in a nest 

 they can be readily sorted into two or three 

 sets, each type no doubt marking the 

 different hen. 



Days elapse before all the eggs are gone, 

 and not infrequently a bird will wait patiently 

 on an addled egg, and I have sometimes , 

 wondered, in a case of this sort, if the 

 older hens had palmed off this last remain- 

 ing egg on their guileless mate, a young 

 bird may be, sitting for the first time, 

 encouraging her to stick to it for a bit 

 longer, while they divided her share of the 

 chicks. 



I have known a Pukeko return to her 

 rain-sodden nest and cold eggs after thirty- 

 six hours' desertion. She had forsaken 

 because of a screen put up too close, but 

 after its removal had returned and again 

 taken to the nest. 



Contrary to what might have been ex- 

 pected, a big proportion of birds choosing 

 the quite open type of nest, that built on 

 the summits of niggerheads, bring out their 



