RAILS. 285 



nest, expecting to find it covered, and the eggs 

 destroyed, or at least forsaken by the hen, he 

 observed, while at a distance, both birds busily 

 engaged about the brink where the nest was 

 placed; and when near enough, he clearly per- 

 ceived that they were adding, with all possible 

 despatch, fresh materials to raise the fabric be- 

 yond the level of the increased contents of the 

 pond, and that the eggs had, by some means, 

 been removed from the nest by the birds, and 

 were then deposited upon the grass, about a foot 

 or more from the margin of the water. He 

 watched them for some time, and saw the nest 

 rapidly increase in height ; but I regret to add, 

 that he did not remain long enough, fearing he 

 might create alarm, to witness the interesting act 

 of the replacing of the eggs, which must have 

 been effected shortly afterwards ; for upon his re- 

 turn, in less than an hour, he found the hen 

 quietly sitting upon them in the newly-raised 

 nest. In a few days afterwards, the young were 

 hatched, and, as usual, soon quitted the nest, 

 and took to the water with their parents. The 

 nest was shewn to me in situ very soon after- 

 wards, and I could then plainly discern the for- 

 mation of the new with the older part of the 

 fabric." * 



The young soon display a good deal of sagacity 

 in avoiding danger, and in obeying the monitory 

 signals of their watchful parents. Mr. Rennie 

 says that he has seen a young brood, evidently not 

 above two days old, dive instantaneously, even 

 before the watchful mother seemed to have time 

 to warn them of his approach, and certainly before 

 * Proceedings of Berwicksh. Naturalists' Club. 



