BIRDS OP THE WEST 99 



warm sun beating down upon the muddy, half-decomposed nest 

 of rushes and possibly even the warm water, all help to call the 

 little divers from their dirty eggshells and when they have arrived 

 you need not fear, as a friend of mine did, that they will drown 

 if they tumble out of the nest. They will really be "in their 

 element. ' ' The little fellows must have a good time floating about 

 in their nest or taking a ride upon their mamma's back while she 

 is passing dainty morsels up to them to satisfy their constant 

 hunger. It is no use to shoot them for they are pretty poor upon 

 the table but they are mighty pretty on the pond. 



