SOME FEATHERED BUILDERS 17 



there is something under those tussock blades 

 like a water-rat, with only his back above water. 

 One short low hiss only a bird's ear could catch 

 it rouses her, for her head and neck are turned 

 in all directions. Not hearing the noise re- 

 peated, she sinks down as she was before. 

 Something appears to move on her and about 

 her, larger than water-beetles certainly, but 

 not so large as mice, and one of the some- 

 things creep up from under her on to her 

 back ; she has hatched out, and for once, if 

 you never see them again, you have seen 

 young grebes. 



There is something more to be seen yet. If 

 your hands and nose are midge-tortured, put 

 up with it for a moment longer ; for one little 

 dumpy diver pokes his head out from his- 

 mother's breast, another from under her wing, 

 and two are on her back this time. Now for 

 it ; one long hiss reaches her from our nearly 

 closed lips ; for one moment her wings are 

 bluffed out a little, then they close, and her 

 flank-feathers come up over her wings close to- 

 ner back. Raising a hand, we give one slap, 

 open-handed, on the side of the bank, and like 

 a flash she has gone, taking her little mites 

 with her under her wings. When they are fit. 



