114 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



up, and, owing to fear of the screen, not 

 at once given to the young, are either 

 dropped or eaten by the purveyors them- 

 selves. 



While still mindful of the screen, one 

 parent would watch, screaming out a yell 

 of maniacal laughter at my least movement, 

 while the other hunted. When their 

 suspicions were lulled, both left the vicinity 

 of the nest and were often away for 

 considerable periods. It was really beautiful 

 to see the love of that wild, fierce mother 

 for her young. Often after she had been 

 hunting unsuccessfully for a time and had 

 no food to bring, she would swoop down 

 for an instant and visit her twin treasures. 

 She seemed unable to keep away for any 

 length of time while mthin reasonable 

 distance of them, but must still return 

 only once again to have one other glimpse. 

 In every w^ay the most tender care is 

 lavished on the young; when the sun grows 

 too hot for their tender skins, the mother 

 bird will remove them into shade, lifting 

 them in that wonderful beak and carrying 

 them one by one to shelter, just as a bitch 



