170 BIRD- LAND ECHOES. 



it 'Id 'a' been shot on the same day ; but nobody 

 looked down there for anything." 



"It would have dodged the gunners, I guess," I 

 replied ; " for a close observer tells me that those 

 that he sees about where he lives, in New Hamp- 

 shire, ' are usually pretty tame, and if shot at before 

 they have taken alarm are easily killed ; but if the 

 first shot fails, you may blaze away all day without 

 any effect. I never knew one to be tired out by 

 diving during constant firing. At such times they 



Eared Grebe. 



go perhaps fifty yards under water each time. Their 

 flight is straight and tremendously swift.' ' 



" Perhaps ; but I'd rather have the birds that come 

 here run no risk. I never get tired o' seein' 'em, 

 whatever the kind." 



The old man was getting prosy and I longed for 

 a walk, so I turned back to the meadows while yet 

 a little of the day was left My thoughts still ran 

 on the subject of our water-birds, and I was anxious 

 to see some of them before dark ; but there was 

 nothing now to attract them inland. The river itself 

 was low and the creek almost choked with rank 



