128 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



" In July and August they begin to go away, and leave in the 

 night ; and by the end of August very few are left." 



" One would think that this small lake would scarcely afford 

 sufficient food for them," said Jimmy. 



" Oh they scour the country around, sir. They follow the 

 plough and spread over the fields like rooks. They catch moths 

 and other insects. They eat mice, and if a young bird (not 

 their own) came in the way they would make a meal of it." 



They bought a score of the eggs for the purpose of exchange, 

 and then rowed round the pool watching the wonderful scene. 



CARP. 



There were plenty of other birds beside gulls there. Coots, 

 water-hens, water-rails, grebes and dabchicks were in plenty. 



" I should think that there cannot be many fish here where 

 the gulls would eat up all the spawn," said Frank ; but as he 

 spoke Dick pointed out the backs of a couple of immense carp 

 which were basking on the top of the water, and a little further 

 on they saw the body of a huge eel, and they were told by the 

 keeper that there were any number of eels there. 



They were invited by the keeper to take tea at his cottage, 

 and they had some of the gulls' eggs boiled, and very good 



