148 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



Before this year I had only obtained a 

 single nest, very neatly built in raupo. 

 This season alone we got four, McLean 

 discovering one in late September (29th), 

 and another in early October (1st). I 

 myself got two nests on the one day in 

 December. McLean's, no doubt, was the 

 early brood, and mine the late. 



The nest is planted deep — buried — a foot 

 or fifteen inches in the heart of a bunch 

 of cutty grass, and usually a clump is 

 selected, growing in a soft, wet spot, the 

 Fern Bird, like the Pukeko, relying on 

 these extra safeguards to fend off vermin 

 and trampling stock. Fern Bird's nests can 

 be discovered most easily on horseback, 

 owing to the extra view, and by continuous 

 riding through these half -dry swamps, speci- 

 mens are sure to be put up. If when a 

 bird is flushed it flies off horizontally, probably 

 it has been merely disturbed at feeding or 

 resting, or gathering nest materials. If, 

 however, the bird pops straight up out of 

 the centre of a clump, the nest, after 

 patient peering, will usually be found deep 

 set among the saw-toothed blades. In form 



