THE HARRIERS 179 



'em that night, 'cause we hoped to get the old bud and all 

 in the mornin'. 



"So next mornin', directly that was light, I went to look 

 if she was on. Time I was peeking for her, up she go, and 

 I slung my flail basket-stick at her, and hit her athwart the 

 legs; but that didn't stop her, no jolly fear. She cleared 

 right off. So I must take the eggs, and sold 'em to Josh 

 for half-a-crown. I didn't know they was worth a lot, but 

 I soon found out. For a few days arter along comes a gent 

 as collected eggs, and he wanted ter know all about it. So 

 I told him, and showed him the place ; and then he went 

 to Josh, but he had sold 'em to Norwich. So away this 

 gent go to Norwich, and wants to buy one egg. But, ' No,' 

 says the chap, ' I won't break the clutch for five pound.' 



"And that come to our ears. So we got ter know they 

 was worth money; and aterwards we used to get a pound 

 for the old buds, but I ain't seen none lay since that the 

 chaps is all arter them, and won't let 'em lay, else they'd do 

 so right enow." 



It is said the harriers have left the low grey fens on 

 account of the drainage. I do not think this is the case, 

 but submit that they left because the coots, rails, and water- 

 hens' eggs have become so scarce ; for they love an egg 

 or young waterhen, coot, or rail, and these last few years 

 these have all become rare. Water-rails, since the winter 

 of 1890-91, are more rare than spotted rails used to be. 



THE MONTAGU HARRIER. 



When the hawthorns are decked with flowery petals and 

 the marshlands are a field of cloth of golden crowsfoot, and 

 the sallows are leafy with June foliage, the cock Montagu, 

 or " Blue Jacket," arrives on his favourite soft, moist, rushy 

 marshes, where the ragged-robin blooms on the higher islets, 

 and the kingcups blaze from the bistre marsh-water, and 

 where he frequents there they will build ; indeed, he seems 



