190 BIRDS 



out of the nest into the water without the slightest 

 hesitation, the shells actually still adhering to 

 their backs! 



This most interesting point opens up a whole 

 series of wonderful observations that might be 

 made respecting the babyhood of birds, but it 

 must suffice for me to draw attention to the re- 

 markable provision that Nature has made whereby 

 some young birds are blind and helpless when 

 born, whilst others, which have not so much protec- 

 tion afforded them, are in a very advanced condi- 

 tion when hatched, and have the power — ^like these 

 young baby Moorhens — of scuttling out of the 

 nest within the first moment or two of being in- 

 cubated and swimming about with ease and facility 

 and obtaining their own living. 



The shock caused to our photographer may be 

 better imagined than described, but he managed 

 to preserve both his mental and physical balances 

 and proceeded to photograph the remaining five 

 eggs. The plate was duly exposed, and just as 

 the photographer was stepping backwards his foot 

 unfortunately slipped, and the poor fellow was 

 precipitated into the rich black water in less time 

 than it takes to tell the story! The effect of this 

 catastrophe upon those of us on dry land may 

 well be imagined, and it was several minutes before 

 we could sufficiently control ourselves to help our 

 friend to regain his balance. The unfortunate 



