32 LAKES AND RIVERS. 



the species takes a long time to become perfectly 

 mature, but that it breeds before being so. 



Professor Alfred Newton says that the Marsh, 

 Common, and Montague's harriers used to breed in 

 the fens of Norfolk, but are now nearly extinct in 

 these breeding-places. The eggs of all three species 

 are of a pale blue colour, and are sometimes spotted 

 with genuine blotches from the bird of an ochre colour, 

 at other times are stained, like those of the Grebes r 

 with matter from the claws of the bird or from the 

 lining of the nest. The eggs of the Marsh Harrier are 

 about the size of a small fowl's; those of the other 

 species are considerably less. The nest of the Marsh 

 Harrier is composed of bulrushes, reeds, and sedges, 

 and is a massive structure, often standing a foot above 

 the ground. 



A familiar example of the order Insectivora and 

 family Turdidce is the Water-ouzel (Cinclus aquaticus) 

 perhaps the most interesting of our mountain water-birds. 

 Although sombre in colour, and not elegant in shape, 

 yet its lively motions in the water render it a favourite 

 with the naturalist. No non-web-footed bird succeeds 

 better in swimming and diving. It has a pleasant, 

 although simple, note. It makes its nest early in 

 April ; it is a large structure, made of grass or moss, 

 having an opening at the side, somewhat of the shape 

 and character of the nest of the Wood-warbler. It 

 puts its nest under the shadow of banks, overhanging 

 the water, often within reach of the spray of a water- 

 fall. Mr. Hewitson says, " My friend Mr. Benjamin 

 Johnson has known of a nest of this bird for many 

 years in succession, which was built upon the rafters 



