104 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



when, consequently, neither of us were upon 

 the spot. On that assumption, and fearing 

 that, perhaps, we were keeping the nestlings 

 hungry during the hours of daylight, a 

 good gorge of raw meat was provided 

 them. 



Next morning the young seemed fit and 

 well, and we still believed they must have 

 been fed at dawn or dusk, for it seemed 

 out of all reckoning that the old Harriers 

 should have abandoned their young, still 

 alive and strong, and conspicuously visible. 



Later, we came to the conclusion that 

 after the sitting bird had been scared by 

 the passage made through the raupo for 

 the lens, neither it nor its mate had ever 

 returned, that neither full sight of the 

 young, nor hearing of their whistle calls 

 had been of any avail. 



During the two mornings spent in 

 watching the young my suspicions as to 

 their criminal propensities were confirmed. 

 Very often in a Harrier's nest at the 

 beginning there may be three or four or 

 five young. I have got as many as six 

 eggs. Out of these three or four or five, 



