276 IN BIRD-LAND 



other side of this small Broad there was another 

 movement now apparent; a Great Crested Grebe 

 swam slowly out towards me, but through my 

 keeping absolutely still it took no notice of the 

 boat. The Grebe dived, thus giving. me an oppor- 

 tunity to get closer. Noiselessly I pushed the 

 boat stern foremost a yard or two nearer, and 

 while the boat was drifting the bird was on the 

 alert, and to my surprise swam towards me, and 

 then dived again. By my watch I found that it 

 remained under water for thirty seconds and then 

 rose with a small wriggling eel in its beak. From 

 the reeds, whence it first came, a harsh croak was 

 heard and a young Grebe swam towards its 

 mother and obtained the food she had just 

 brought up. The old bird dived again, followed 

 by the little Grebe, this time remaining under 

 water for sixteen seconds. 



While the two were out of sight I managed to 

 get nearer to them, so that they rose only twenty 

 yards away. Then, suddenly, we were startled by 

 hearing a loud cry overhead -fraank, fraank. 

 Two Herons flying low over the water, with their 

 ever-watchful eyes had seen me in the boat, so 

 that they gave out their warning to every living 

 thing around. The Grebe and the little one 

 immediately dived, and were not seen again. It 



