68 BRITISH BIRDS. 



yet out of the shell, and seizing him by the shoulder 

 removed him shell and all (Plate VIII.), and the fourth 

 also in like manner (Plate IX.). There remained only 

 one addled egg, but though this formed a very difficult 

 task, after several unsuccessful efforts she succeeded in 

 getting a firm grasp of it (Plate X.), and disappeared. 

 All these five photographs were taken in less than ten 

 minutes. 



After this the bird returned twice and just peeped into 

 the nest, and, thus apparently satisfied as to its emptiness, 

 we saw her no more. 



We diligently searched the reeds for the missing birds, 

 but found only the addled egg, some eight feet away, 

 and one half -fledged chick, that must have been in the 

 water many hours, evidently one of those removed from 

 the nest on the 27th. We replaced the egg, covered up 

 the nest and went away, hoping that, like the Great 

 Crested Grebe and Coot, the Water-Rail would bring 

 back her young to the old home for a day or two ; but 

 on the 29th the nest was wet and cold, evidently there 

 had been no return ; and though we made a long search 

 in its vicinity, no trace of the birds, old or young, could 

 be found. 



I can give no explanation of the cause of this behaviour 

 on the part of my Water-Rail, and do not know whether 

 it is ordinary or extraordinary ; the fact that two young 

 ones disappeared before the 28th seems to show that these 

 birds are in the habit of removing their newly-hatched 

 or partly-fledged young. This is a story without an 

 ending, because so far we have failed to discover the 

 whereabouts of the missing birds. Perhaps another 

 season, by carefully watching and not attempting to 

 photograph the Water-Rail, some further light may be 

 thrown upon this very interesting point. After all, 

 this bird is my " totem " and ought to reveal her secrets 

 to me. 



