The supposed Otter 303 



is now and then selected. But the ducks do not breed in 

 any number, though they used to do so within living 

 memory. 



The coots cannot be overlooked in spring ; they chase 

 each other to and fro over the surface in the liveliest 

 manner, and their nests are common. Moorhens, of 

 course, are here in numbers. Why is it that they never 

 seem to learn wisdom in placing their nests ? Whether 

 in the lake, in the ponds, or brooks, they exhibit the same 

 lack of foresight as to changes of level in the water ; so 

 that frequently their nests are quite drowned out. Occa- 

 sionally in the brooks the nest is floated bodily down the 

 stream by a sudden rise. These mishaps they might easily 

 avoid by placing them a little higher up the bank. 



In the lake there are several acres of withy bushes 

 which when the water is low are on dry land, but in spring 

 and early summer stand five or six feet deep. This is a 

 favourite nesting-place with the coots : and they show the 

 same neglect of the teachings of experience; for their 

 nests are placed almost on the water, and if it rises, as it 

 often does, they are flooded. 



It is said that otters used to come to the mere many 

 years ago ; but they have never done so lately, though 

 stories of their having been seen are frequent. One 

 summer the story was so positive and so often repeated 

 that I made a thorough search, and found that it origin- 

 ated in the motions of a large diving bird. This bird 

 swam under water with wonderful rapidity, and often close 

 to the surface, so that it raised a wave and could be traced 

 by it. This was the supposed otter. The bird was after- 

 wards shot, but its exact species does not seem to have been 

 satisfactorily ascertained. Several kinds of divers, however, 

 have without doubt been killed. Grebes are often shot. 



