278 WILD NATURE'S WAYS. 



MOOR-HENS ON ICE. 



promptly disturbed it. The frightened bird in- 

 stantly dived, and commenced to swim up stream. 

 I watched its leaden grey form disappear beneath 

 a long tangle of beet-coloured roots trailing gently 

 to and fro about a foot beneath the surface of 

 the crystal current. Quick as thought my hand 

 went to my watch-pocket, and I commenced to 

 time the subaquatic stay of the fugitive. Admira- 

 tion of the poor bird's enduring powers mounted 

 higher and higher until one hundred and twenty 

 seconds had been registered, when an element of 

 doubt crept into my mind. A further sixty 

 seconds convinced me there was something wrong, 

 so I rushed off for a stick, with which I poked 

 the hiding bird out of its place of concealment. 



