Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 707 



On tlie 1st of June last^ when with a friend I was follow- 

 ing the reedy edges of this reservoir^ my attention was 

 drawn to a small rushy islet of quite a few yards in extent 

 by a Stilt that hovered over it and was evidently disturbed 

 by my proximity to it. I waded to the islet through about 

 two feet of water and found the Stilt's nest on it and 

 five Eared Grebes' nests floating in the bordering rushes. 

 All the nests had eggs. 



There was a similar islet abont ten yards off, and I noticed 

 the glistening of eggs on the water about ten yards or so 

 from it on the open. I waded across and found a chain of 

 five more Eared Grebe's nests on the water-weed in the 

 shallow water, about one foot in depth, and quite in the 

 open. One nest was under water, and the two eggs in it 

 Avere immersed. On going to the islet I found five more 

 nests just outside it in the opeUj and I found three more 

 nests floating in the rushes on the edge of the islet. All 

 the eighteen nests had eggs in them ; one nest only had four 

 eggs in it, one had three eggs, and the remaining sixteen other 

 nests had either two or one egg in them. All the nests 

 were composed piincipally of water-weed, and the ten nests 

 in the open were floating on the top of the growing water- 

 weed. Only two nests had the eggs concealed by weed 

 being placed over them. 



It was rather a curious fact that although I had followed 

 the bank of the reservoir for a good distance, I never saw a 

 single parent bird, though usually a number are visible, and 

 I have had no difficulty in obtaining specimens. 



The eighteen nests were within a circle of thirty yards, 

 roughly speaking. 



I am, Sir, 



Yours &c., 



Milgate Park, Francis R. S. 15axendale. 



Bearsted, Kent, 



August 4th, 1913. 



