Birds. 501 



was lost. Those spots not very near the margin, in which grew a few bulrushes, were 

 much affected. The nest seldom rose more than an inch or two above the water, al- 

 though composed of a large mass of weeds ; nor was it ever placed near the edge, but 

 for the most part not less than twenty or thirty yards from it. Most of the nests seem- 

 ed to be built altogether irrespectively of concealment. They were generally quite 

 soaked with water, and the least depression by the hand or otherwise caused the water 

 to rise in them : nor did a single instance come to my knowledge, whether by experi- 

 ence or in answer to enquiry, in which the nest was dry, excepting only those few cases 

 ! in which it was left dry or nearly so by the shrinking of the limits of the mere in conse- 

 ! quence of a hot dry season. I may also remark that I never saw a nest, not deserted, 

 left uncovered, and the covering almost invariably consisted of freshly-gathered weeds, 

 of what species I am not botanist enough to know. T have often seen the parent bird 

 pecking away right and left, and then slip quietly off the nest as I drew near. I omit 

 j most of my remarks relative to the colouring of the eggs, which is, however, a very cu- 

 rious subject ; for to what cause is it due ? Not to mud (see Yarrell in loco) certainly 

 in this case, for the soil adjacent is chiefly sand upon chalk. And if the colour must 

 be ascribed to the weeds, is the dabchick's the only white egg so affected ? The young- 

 birds are no sooner hatched than they take to the water. I have never succeeded in 

 finding one in the nest, though I suppose it is probable they return to it for the night. 

 In truth I cannot give any very accurate account of them after the young had made 

 their appearance. The time for close observation, owing to the growth of the weeds, 

 had gone by when the general hatch took place; and later in the season, all observa- 

 tion whatever was precluded. Hence too I was unable to ascertain with exactness at 

 what period they left the mere ; but by the time the weeds had died down, they were 

 gone. Sometimes, indeed, the rapid wasting of the water must have precipitated their 

 departure ; and in 1839 the mere was almost dry in September. Neither could I as- 

 certain whither they went. There were a few running brooks in the neighbourhood ; 

 and in them perhaps a few might have passed the winter. But from never meeting 

 with even a solitary individual at any time during the winter months, I am quite in- 

 clined to think that the great bulk of the tenants of the mere accomplished a migra- 

 tion of some length. To the sea, at the nearest point, was from twenty to twenty- five 

 miles. Could they have gone thither, as the coots most probably did, on their being 

 driven away by the setting in of frost? I have noticed that the dabchicks' note might 

 sometimes be heard proceeding from an individual on the wing. This sound, which 

 was of frequent Occurrence in the early part of the season only, may be nearly imitat- 

 ed by drawing a longish stick rapidly along common paling, so as to produce a rather 

 shrill sound. I have not unfrequently come suddenly upon a little grebe in some of 

 the pools formed in the large rills of the saltings where the water has exerted its wast- 

 ing influence at the bendings of the channels. The bottom of these pools is soft mud, 

 which does not permit the growth of sea-weed or other plants that might form a con- 

 cealment; and yet I could never get a second glimpse of the little diver after he had 

 once caught sight of me, which he was pretty sure to do at least as soon as I espied 

 him. What became of him I was at a loss to discover. He could not have left the 

 pool unseen, nor yet have remained in complete submersion, as I have staid ten or fif- 

 teen minutes at a time, hoping to see him again. If it had been able, by any means, 

 to keep itself submerged all but the beak, I think I should have detected it ; for I had 

 but a small space to scrutinize, and have often succeeded in detecting the moorhen, 

 even under less favourable circumstances. I can only account for its non-appearance 



