102 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



raupo, where last season a pair of Harriers 

 hatched out one brood successfully and 

 attempted a second. Harriers sit very close 

 and though I almost stumbled on the bird, 

 I barely allowed myself a glance at the 

 nest, and came away at once. Indeed, I 

 believe that with shy species, unless you 

 have actually exchanged glances with the 

 sitting bird and she knows you have her 

 secret, it is judicious to gradually wander 

 off as if still unenlightened. Birds see so 

 much and notice everything. 



At long intervals the briefest of glimpses 

 were taken at this second nest, and it was 

 not until the 9th of December, when the 

 young, two in number were sitting up — 

 baby Harriers spend a great part of their 

 time in this attitude — and. about fifteen or 

 seventeen days old, that siege operations 

 were begun. The nest, supported on dense 

 masses of dry, dead raupo, was by this 

 time flattened into a broad stage by the 

 traffic of the old birds and the movements 

 of the nestlings. The latter were densely 

 clothed in very short, pale, furry-looking 

 down, and when sitting up, much resembled 



