BIRD PROBLEMS 223 



fence, weighted as it was with the duck. After one 

 or two vain attempts it stack the bill of the bird 

 into an interstice of the stones half-way up the wall, 

 then it jumped upon the top, and, pulling its prey 

 after it, quietly made off. 



From the secluded lives and hideling habits of the 

 birds of the rail-kind, it would hardly be imagined 

 that they were endowed with much intelligence. 

 One instance of this, however, has already been 

 given, and here is another. A pair of water-hens 

 built their nest upon an ornamental piece of water 

 of considerable extent, and which was ordinarily fed 

 by a spring, but into which another large pond was 

 occasionally emptied. This was done while the 

 female was sitting, and, as the nest had been built 

 at low water, the sudden influx from the second pond 

 caused the water to rise so rapidly as to threaten 

 the destruction of the eggs. This the birds seemed 

 aware of, and immediately took precautions against 

 it. The gardener on the estate, knowing of the 

 sudden rise of water, went to look after the nest, 

 though quite expecting to find the eggs ruined. 

 Instead of this he saw both birds busily engaged 

 about the nest, and adding, with all possible despatch, 

 fresh materials to the fabric to bring it above the 

 impending flood. This they not only succeeded in 

 doing, but it was observed that upon the first rush 

 of water they had removed the eggs to a distance of 



