162 IN BIRD-LAND 



I have sometimes seen Moor-hens swimming in 

 security under the tunnel referred to, when sports- 

 men with their guns have been about ; and the 

 birds evidently knew that they were comparatively 

 safe, providing they kept far enough away, or in 

 the middle of the low, long arch. 



During a storm in the early part of last year a 

 piece of iron fencing was carried by the torrent of 

 water into this low-roofed tunnel ; and this some- 

 how got fixed about a third of the distance 

 through, so that a quantity of sticks and rubbish 

 gradually accumulated in front of this obstruction. 

 On a platform thus formed a pair of Moor-hens 

 built their nest. On the hottest days of summer 

 the atmosphere is always very cool in this long 

 covered way, and it is somewhat surprising that any 

 birds should choose such an odd kind of site on 

 which to build ; but nevertheless, not only was 

 their brood successfully reared, a second nest was 

 built on a little island of mud still farther in the 

 tunnel. 



It was interesting to note, that as soon as their 

 young were hatched, the parents provided a large 

 additional nest outside the arch, in a warmer and 

 more sunny position, for their family to roost in. 

 Then, when their young had grown somewhat, 

 the Moor-hens added yet another nest about two 



