A MINIATURE BRITISH FAUNA in 



i 



for some years past. In a quiet pool known to me, 

 a couple of water-hens have annually hatched and 

 reared one or more broods under the shadow of an 

 old thorn- tree, the nest being interwoven with one 

 of the lower boughs which float on the surface of the 

 pool. Under the roots, of the tree a pair of voles 

 have annually produced several young families; 

 and yet perfect amity seems to exist between the 

 birds and the rodents. I have seen the eggs lying 

 for hours uncovered and unprotected, and at other 

 times the young birds, not more than a few hours 

 old, swimming about in the water at the time the 

 voles were constantly feeding; crossing and re- 

 crossing from bank to bank. If voles were addicted 

 to killing birds, the downy young of the moor-hen 

 would have afforded tender morsels, and have been 

 easily obtained in a small confined pool ere they were 

 able to take wing. 



Shooting late one evening in summer, I was stand- 

 ing by a stream-side that was literally riddled with 

 the tunnellings of voles. It was almost dark, when 

 a large bird flapped slowly over the field, and alighted 

 by the bank. It took its stand, and, as I lay low, 

 its sketchy form was sharply outlined against the 

 sky. It was a heron, and for an hour, among the 

 dank weeds and wet grass, I watched it feed. After 

 a prolonged struggle with some object in the water it 

 rose. Just as it did so I fired, and running up to the 



