116 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



Whilst hunting, should one of the old birds 

 high in air pass over the site of the nest 

 little notice is taken, but the long whistle 

 signalling the approach of food rouses the 

 youngsters from their play or sleep, and 

 they rush at once to their platform edge. 

 There they remain, gazing into the sky and 

 cowering and flinching in sjnnpathy with 

 the flying shadow that swings from the 

 dropping hawk. With hardly a sound she 

 sweeps on to the ledge, and then, as always, 

 comes to the young that trying grace before 

 meat. She stands with outstretched talon, 

 pressing down her prey, and during this 

 tantalising pause, the nestlings' eyes seem 

 to be starting from their heads, and they 

 whine with hunger and excitement. Their 

 gaze is rivetted on the ground, but they 

 never offer to stir an inch until permission 

 is given and the capture dangled from her 

 beak. 



Supplies were brought in quite irregu- 

 larly, of course, but averaging, I daresay, 

 about once in every ninety minutes. The 

 youngsters in this nest, however, w^ere three- 

 quarters grown, and would require a pro- 



