MIDDLE OF - MAY 53 
moorhens just hatched out. Ten feet from 
the ground is high up for a moorhen’s nest ; 
but doubtless the old birds feared the vermin 
that was there, and, though not furnished 
with gripping claws like other birds, to sit 
on branches or tree tops, they still had seen 
the danger and prepared for it, well knowing 
that as soon as their young brood were 
hatched they, taking to the water, could by 
swimming get away. But what instinct 
caused these fledglings, that no one yet 
had seen, to escape as we came up? How 
had they—only a few hours old—learnt that 
our approach meant danger to themselves ? 
We picked up tenderly five little fluffy things, 
for they could scarcely crawl, and then we 
let them go. A few days after this, on re- 
visiting the nest, we found that their pre- 
cipitation had cost them dear. For there, 
stiff and stark upon the twigs, hung two 
young forms. 
After the storm had cleared away our 
further search was again rewarded. A black- 
headed bunting had built a neat round nest 
