106 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



him by the head and hanging on as turkeys 

 do. 



This smaller chick I imagined to be 

 calculating on his fellow's ebbing strength 

 with the hideous interest of the cannibal 

 convict in Marcus Clarke's story. 



It is hardly necessary to repeat again 

 that both McLean and myself were then 

 stiU under the impression that the nestlings 

 must be receiving supplies at dawn and 

 dusk while we were absent. 



Even when we removed the camera and 

 gear, giving up all hope of securing nega- 

 tives from this nest, we were not perfectly 

 certain of its desertion, for the Harriers 

 still hung about the vicinity. 



All doubt, however ceased when we found 

 the young fallen from the nest and dead. 



