iS HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



and so he prepares to meet the trespasser. The 

 other coot accepting this performance as a challenge, 

 puts himself in a similar position, and swims towards 

 the challenger. After manoeuvring for a short time, 

 always one beak pointing to the other beak, one 

 drops his wings and angrily darts at the other. 

 There is then such a splashing and beating of wings 

 that it is difficult to see what the fighters are doing. 

 Suddenly the hen leaves her nest, she can be seen 

 walking down the bank, and, leaping into the air, 

 flies quickly towards her mate and helps to drive the 

 intruder away, followjng him for ten yards or more ; 

 then returning, she goes back to her eggs, while the 

 male, taking all the glory of the fight, proudly swims 

 round and up and down his small but well-protected 

 estate, as it might be termed. On this bright summer 

 morning I saw this pretty episode of wild-bird life 

 several times repeated, as one and then another coot 

 approached so closely to that part of the water 

 protected by the male birds. 



After this excitement and bustle it is some relief 

 to turn into the shade and silence beneath the trees 

 round the island. Swimming slowly about there, 

 and feeding, is a dabchick, his nest being near, 

 though never could we find it. Many attempts did 

 I make to discover this nest, by watching the birds 

 and also by searching. The latter exercise was 

 rather exciting at times ; the old punt leaked so 



