42 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



bush, just in front of the spot where I had 

 been standing. When I examined this, right 

 in the thickest of the tangle, there was the 

 nest. 



Watching a pool one morning from behind 

 some cover, a wild duck rose from the rushes. 

 From the start I could see she would pass low 

 down, just on one side of my hiding-place. As 

 she skimmed by, with her wings half bent, not 

 a sound could be heard. Just as quietly, she 

 dropped in the grass not fifty yards away ; then 

 peep, peep could be heard. The duck had 

 been down to the pool for a dabble and trim- 

 up, coming back to her ducklings in the quiet 

 manner I have described. Birds soon find out 

 where they are safe, and they at once take 

 advantage of it. This duck had made her 

 nest and hatched out close to a lot of pheasant- 

 coops that were vigilantly watched by day and 

 night. The young are carried at times, when 

 necessary ; and they follow where the course is 

 clear. More than once I have been asked how 

 water -fowl have got their broods safely into 

 apparently impossible situations. To these 

 questions there is only one answer : we can- 

 not know, for they move them in the dark. In 

 trying to escape observation, which to water- 



