VOL. XIV.] 



THE AVOCET AT HOME. 



201 



babes, he soon made friends and played with them. His 

 mother, however, returned to her nest after a short absence, 

 looked round and called to her first-born ; but he found his 

 companions more congenial society and paid no attention 

 to her cries. In this instance the parents of the three chicks 

 were quite friendly and did not attempt to illtreat the intruder. 

 When my bird had successfully hatched out her brood she 

 led them away, collected the truant, and wandered to the 



AVOCET AND NEV/LY-HATCHKU VuLNG. 



The first-born has joined his playmates. 

 (Photographed by E. L. Turner.) 



edge of a dyke. She then flew across the dyke, calling 

 loudly to the little ones. They — although one was barely 

 an hour old — plunged unhesitatingly into the water, where 

 they swam about in rather a distracted manner. The old 

 bird leant over the bank and encouraged them with softly 

 uttered " Kluits," and " Koeks," until they plucked up 

 sufficient courage to climb the steep sides of the dyke. Then 

 I lost sight of them, for they were immediately joined by 

 the male and wandered away into the rough pastures. While 



