THE PRAIRIES 



329 



although we reached the nest within ten seconds after they 

 had left it. Nor did they apparently return to their home 

 until they were directed to do so. The commands of the par- 

 ent must have been given from the air, since pictures show- 

 ing the old bird brooding its chicks were made as soon as the 

 parent returned to the nest. The old bird invariably sprang 

 into the air at the click of the shutter and the empty nest 



' Two little Terns ' 



proved that the young birds deserted it at the same mo- 

 ment, and this performance they repeated as long as their 

 strength lasted. 



An aged punt, which I trust was launched with an apol- 

 ogy to the lake, was used to explore the reed forests. This 

 was exciting but exasperating work. Strange calls from 

 just beyond the limit of vision in the dense growth, lured 

 one to continued exertions with the push pole, but the 

 swash of the clumsy craft gave warning of our coming and 

 the unknown voices always remained a mystery. A pair of 

 Holbcell's Grebes had a nest on a small raft of water-soaked 

 reeds near the boat landing, but my best efforts to see the 



