JUNE 233 



settle on a coop in which was a hen with a brood of young 

 pheasants, and beat the top of the coop with its wings, until the 

 noise frightened the chicks that were nestling beneath their 

 foster-mother's feathers, causing them to run out through the 

 bars to seek shelter in the grass. This of course was the oppor- 

 tunity of that wise owl, and one of which he did not fail to avail 

 himself. It was also the opportunity of the keeper. 



Whilst walking past the pond in the farm lane my attention 

 was attracted by a curious chirruping noise. On peeping down 

 I saw a pretty and an interesting sight, for among the reeds and 

 rushes a clutch of tiny moor-hens were swimming to and fro, 

 little balls of black fluff with beaks red as the best sealing wax. 

 Of the old birds I could see nothing ; doubtless at my approach 

 they had run from the pond and hidden in the hay, leaving the 

 young ones to take their chance. 



It is curious that these waterfowl should build thus in a little 

 lane-side pond, when within a quarter of a mile of them flows the 

 river Waveney. Perhaps they prefer ponds to rivers because the 

 former do not overflow the banks and perhaps flood their nests. 



There is a great deal of water out on the common this even- 

 ing, more than there was yesterday. With us the second day 

 of the floods is generally worse than the first, as the water 

 collected from thousands of ditches and drain-pipes along the 

 whole length of the valley of the Waveney takes some time to 

 come down. 



June 14. Yesterday was very cold, and to-day is still colder. 

 The stove has been re-lighted to warm the house, and all are 

 wrapped up in their thickest winter clothes. There is no gleam 

 of sun, but day by day the north-easterly gale rages on us beneath 

 an ashen sky. I wish that we all lived in Cyprus, that island of 

 the blest. Of all the many places I have visited in the world, there 

 are but two to which I wish to return Iceland and Cyprus. 

 Perhaps, however, I should add Egypt to the list. 



For the last few days I have noticed that all the swallows, martins, 



