ioo HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



and roots with a moisture which in its effect is as good 

 as a shower of rain. The dew of autumn is caused 

 largely by the water-charged atmosphere condensing 

 on the leaves and grasses. If we notice the ground 

 underneath the plants, and indeed almost anywhere, it 

 will be found to be dry, with the exception of the top 

 layer of dust, and even this is generally also dry. The 

 moor-hens sit down and work a slight hollow in the 

 ground, very much after the style of a sparrow when 

 having a dust-bath ; there they sit and lazily gaze 

 about with half-closed eyes, rejoicing in the sun's 

 warmth. One will occasionally rise, pick up an 

 insect or worm which has approached too near for its 

 safety to be ensured, and then returns to the resting- 

 place. Another water-hen leaves the lake, flutters up 

 the bank, and is no sooner there than she is attacked 

 by one of her own species. Round and round they 

 go, repeatedly striking and sparring at each other. 

 Now they stand a yard apart with wings slightly 

 opened, and head and neck laid on the ground, but 

 always facing one another. Again they dash at each 

 other, then one turns round and swiftly runs away. 



The loud note of a goose, kee-wonk, is heard from 

 the distant end of the lake, and reminds us of nights 

 spent on the mud flats of the coast, where the deep 

 roar of the punt-gun and the lesser reports of breech- 

 loaders rouse the night-feeding birds, whose notes, 

 uttered while they fly in the light of the winter moon, 



