THE HAUNTS OF COOT AND HERON 99 



gone through before the prey is swallowed. There 

 can be no doubt as to the skill of the bird in fishing, 

 and it is hard to imagine how it has acquired such 

 extraordinary keenness of vision and swiftness of 

 movement under water as to be thus able to out- 

 manoeuvre the fish in their own element. One can 

 readily imagine how such exceptional powers should 

 have suggested to various peoples the idea of 

 utilizing the bird in the service of man. The mate is 

 now seen circling overhead, but it does not ahght, 

 and the bird in the water takes fhght at length, the 

 two wheehng round and round in wide circles until 

 they reach a considerable altitude, when they sail 

 out of sight seaward. 



As we return by the lake shore the rabbits are 

 feeding close up to their burrows, and the rooks have 

 long since scattered to the distant pastures. The 

 coots are taking their families out on the surface of 

 the lake, leaving the friendly shelter of the sedge ; 

 and the queer little black balls swim obediently 

 behind, scarcely venturing out of line even after the 

 most tempting morsels. Foolish mothers ! Not 

 thus does the mallard risk her offspring in the open. 

 They look safe enough, you think, but they are not 

 really so. Ah ! to be a boy was to look upon every 

 young water-fowl which took the open water as 

 dehvered into your hands. It was only a question 

 of time and dexterity to effect their capture, bare- 

 handed and without boat or net. 



It was not so very difficult. Only two quaUfica- 

 tions were necessary. You must be a boy, and a 

 good swimmer — especially the first. A tyro might . 

 capture one, or even a pair ; but to secure a whole 

 brood of the nimble little swimmers at a single 



