BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



come from the haunts of the Coot and Hern," 

 and many another verse have been familiar 

 since our childhood. Belonging to the same 

 order as the Crane, the Coot has the pecu- 

 liarity of sometimes building a "floating nest," 

 that is, it will make its nest on some clump of 

 coarse grass or stalks growing just over the 

 water and swayed by the movements of the 

 water. On one occasion the grass on which 

 was the nest was cut away in getting out some 

 logs, and though it floated across the pond the 

 bird went back to it and the young were hatch- 

 ed in safety. 



Like the Coot and the Crane and the Bittern, 

 the Loon is becoming more rare in settled 

 parts. Though it belongs to a different order 

 (the diving birds), its home is in lonely places 

 by the water side, and as these haunts become 

 invaded by tourists the Loons must go. But 

 another reason for their disappearance is the 

 clearing away of bushes and trees from the 

 water's edge, making it no longer a nesting 

 place for the Loon, which likes to nest where 

 it is hidden by overhanging foliage. 



To another order belong the Gulls and 

 Terns, but they, too, are shore birds of won- 

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