296 PROLIFIC BREEDERS. [CHAP. iv. 



The young one chirped strongly in the shell, but what 

 became of it soon afterwards may be easily imagined. 

 They rear several broods during the season. Yonder 

 swim three or four nearly full-grown birds after their 

 mother, begging her to put the seed or the shell- 

 fish she has found for them into their mouths the 

 great babies ! instead of remembering that they now 

 ought to be old enough to feed themselves. This short- 

 ranging telescope, which we will lend you, will help you 

 to watch their proceedings during the day, on many 

 occasions when they little suspect that your eye is upon 

 them. Water Hen's eggs are often brought to our 

 market, during the spring, to eat, but they are seldom 

 without a slight suspicion of incubation, which is more 

 attractive to an Arctic than to an English appetite. The 

 eggs to appear on our breakfast table to-day are not 

 those of the Water Hen." 



