NOTES AND QUERIES. 435 



When alarmed they run to the pond, and have become very expert at 

 diving. They can already progress some yards under water. 



29th. — 4.15 a.m., one of the parent birds very busy stealing hay 

 for its nest from a hay-cock near by. This continued for fifteen 

 minutes, and each visit was made practically every twenty-five seconds. 

 After completing what was necessary to the nest, a Rabbit feeding 

 some short distance away was driven from the vicinity of the pond ; 

 perhaps the possible repetition of the former mystery was not 

 welcomed. 



July 8th. — The young are now frequently seen at considerable 

 distances from the pond. 



13th. — The hen bird and young always retire to the roosting-nest 

 much earlier than the male bird returns to sleep at the pond. 



16th. — Raining steadily. The young retire to sleeping-nest at 

 6 p.m., but leave it again for a short time at 7 p.m. ; as a rule they 

 settle down for the night fully an hour later. 



19th. — Heavy rains the last few days. The nest further added to 

 with more grass and rushes. 



20th. — 5.30 p.m., watched further building up of the nest. I 

 have never seen both birds at work together, and I think it is only 

 the hen bird that constructs the nest. 



22nd. — 4.30 a.m., the old bird again adding to nest. 4.45 a.m., 

 the first young one left the nest, followed by another at 5 a.m. 



23rd. — 4-30 a.m., hen bird first left her brood ; the latter remained 

 in nest for some time after. 



27th. — Further nest construction. 



August 3rd. — Two of the four young appear to be missing. 



4th. — Heavy rain. Roosting-nest now completely under water. 

 The nest in which the young were hatched has been considerably 

 added to, and is now being used for roosting purposes. The other 

 nest was never reoccupied, although the water was at its normal 

 height again a few days afterwards. 



16th. — From August 3rd a Stoat has made almost daily visits to 

 the pond (see ' Zoologist,' September, p. 354). At such times the old 

 birds call the young quickly to the water, and keep them well in 

 the centre out of harm's way, calling with loud alarm notes in the 

 meantime. 



20th. — Old bird ceased to roost with the young about this date. 

 The care of the young has lasted about ten weeks. 



28th. — A fifth nest has been constructed near by where the flood 

 Washed away their first nest and eggs, but I cannot see that it is put 

 to any purpose. 



