IN) THE MONTH OF JUNE 91 
antiquated little ‘guard house’ just behind. 
We did not seek in vain: for as we reached 
the river bank, and where two trees had fallen 
right across the stream (hidden behind their 
naked trunks, just where they met) we found 
a moorhen’s nest with seven eggs. A queer 
spot this to build a nest upon a floating tree! 
but concealment and construction were well 
planned. For no one would have thought 
to find a nest upon a floating tree! And 
yet, the structure was quite safe, rising as 
the water rose, and sinking as it fell. The 
nest was badly placed from the photographer’s 
point of view, and with the camera and the 
legs as a burden, it would have needed a rope 
walker’s skill to get at it, though those tall 
flags in yellow bloom behind, and stately 
bulrushes close by, with light green duck- 
weed in the foreground would have framed 
well upon the camera screen. In the river 
depths close to the bank, and motionless, 
but with his wicked eye alert for any prey 
that might pass by, there lay a jack, at 
home, waiting the day when he could close 
