196 



Marsh. 



sheep's skin. There, too, are some rooks aiding the starlings 

 in their beneficent work, and so intent are they on their 

 labour that they do not notice us until we get close to them, 

 and then they only fly lazily a yard or too, and return as 

 soon as we have passed on. A wild-duck whizzes up into 



,^:"w| 



FIG. 41. THE WAXWIXG (bombiciila garrula). 



the air, and we soon discover its nest with a plentiful supply 

 of eggs. This is followed by another and yet another, and 

 we soon recognise that they must be preserved here, and 

 that we are treading on dangerous ground. Then a coot 

 takes quietly to the water from yonder clump of sedge ; it is 

 too far out for us to reach it with a stick, but the regular 



