III. THE DABCHICKS. 12 5 



and scarcely ever admits of a near examina- 

 tion of the nest-making, or of a view of the 

 eggs. In favourable situations, however, and 

 with the aid of a telescope, the process may- 

 be watched ; and it is not a little interesting 

 to notice with what remarkable quickness the 

 dabchick scratches the weeds over her eggs 

 with her feet, when she perceives herself 

 observed, so as not to lead even to the sus- 

 picion that any were deposited on the ill- 

 shapen floating mass. This work of an 

 instant displays as much skill in deception 

 as can well be imagined." 



104. It is still left to question, first, what 

 is meant by a wet depression ? — does the bird 

 actually sit in the water, and are the eggs 

 under it ? and, if not, how is the water kept 

 out ? Secondly, is the floating nest anchored, 

 and how ? Looking to other ornithologists 

 for solution of these particulars, I find nobody 

 else say anything about a floating nest at all. 

 Bewick describes it as being of a large size, 

 and composed of a very great quantity of grass 

 and water plants, at least a foot in thickness, 

 and so placed in the water that tlie female 

 hatches her eggs amidst the continual wet in 



