54 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



marks reveal the presence of the water-rail, and, 

 though we may have at the time no further evidence, 

 we yet have sufficient proof of its existence in our 

 neighbourhood to cause us to keep a continued watch 

 for it. 



Again we visit the lock when the surface is frozen. 

 The ice is hardly strong enough to bear us, but 

 covers the lock, except at a small patch of about 

 fifteen yards by ten, which may have been kept from 

 freezing by the action of the birds upon it. A 

 single swan is there, accompanied by coots, tufted 

 ducks, and pochard. But more important at present 

 for us is yon small bird that is walking on the ice, 

 finding now and again some small morsel of food. 

 On it comes towards the little pool, and walks on the 

 verge of the ice. How delighted we are to obtain 

 such a view of a water-rail undisturbed, moving as 

 freely and as carelessly as if he were safely covered 

 beneath the shelter of the reeds. But our joy does 

 not remain long, for, though only our head is visible, 

 the bird has evidently noticed us, and has made for 

 the shore at the very moment when we direct our 

 glass on the larger birds. 



'Tis winter still, but to-day the frost is hard, and 

 skaters are hurrying off for the ponds and locks. We 

 ourselves are early on the march, not to enjoy a day 

 on the ice, but to enquire after such birds as may 

 have been compelled by the ice to retreat from their 

 wonted haunts. The skaters have full possession of 

 the lock, and no swans, coots, or ducks are there. 

 The ground of the surrounding marsh, usually soft, is 

 hard and firm beneath the tread, so that our searching 

 here is not likely to be of much avail. We therefore 

 take our course along the burn that flows out of the 

 lock. On the left bank, a hedge separates the burn 

 from a field invwhich cabbages are still standing, and 

 on the right is an open meadow. On each bank 

 water-hens are cautiously feeding, and now and again 

 a large water-rat makes a short excursion from his 

 home, but soon returns to shelter. I stand on the 

 left bank, and my brother walks down the right. 

 Soon the birds are aware of the intruder's presence, 

 and begin to move. First, there issues from beneath 

 the hedge a water-rail ; with neck stretched forward, 

 it runs quickly along the hedge-foot, several times 

 acting as if it would again return to shelter, but ever 

 again continuing its running as my brother advances, 

 and now it rises and flies over the field to some 

 potato-pits beyond the cabbages. Water-hens, black- 

 birds and finches also issue from their retreat, but 

 they do not attract my attention when better things 

 are to be seen. Arrived at a bend in the burn, my 

 brother works now so that his actions are unseen by 

 me, but rouses a pair of water-rails, which take 

 refuge in flight. Now he turns and walks back again 

 towards me, frightening out only blackbirds and such 

 like till he approaches his starting-point, when 

 another water-rail that had remained hidden on his 

 outward walk, now apprehends danger, and dodges [ 



out from beneath the hedge. I distinctly see its 

 colour and its red beak, and I contrast its t bulk with 

 the water-hen's. Now it stands a yard or two from 

 the hedge, uncertain as to how it should proceed. 

 Its back forms a sort of regular curve as it stands 

 with head erect and tail slightly raised, after the 

 manner of a water-hen. Unable to make up its mind,, 

 it behaves as if it were dizzy, and seems now to be 

 certainly making straight for the cabbages, but now 

 again as certainly makes for the burn. Just as I am> 

 beginning to think whether I ought to give chase or 

 not, it decides that escape is the better plan, and off 

 it flies, strong on the wing, and is soon lost to 

 sight. 



Such, then, is the process by which we come to a 

 knowledge of this shy bird. We may, however, 

 first identify it in another way, if we should happen 

 to come on one lying close in the herbage. One 

 day in August 1890, my brothers were walking along 

 the banks of the North Esk in this county, when one 

 of them noticed what he considered a dead bird 

 lying in a tuft of rushes. He lifted it by the foot, 

 and it at once began to show that it was alive. The 

 bird was a water-rail ; and my brothers took it home, 

 where they exhibited it. They then tied a string 

 round its leg, and allowed it to swim for a while, 

 after which they released it, and it quickly 

 disappeared by running. 



Robert Godfrey.- 



FEATHERS. 

 By John R. Lord. 

 Introduction. 



WHEN a wonderful invention is brought before 

 us, so that we clearly see its results, are we 

 not naturally curious as to how these results are 

 brought about ? The spirit of looking into what we 

 do not understand seems to be one of our natural 

 instincts. A boy when shown a watch naturally 

 wants to see and handle the works, a proceeding 

 often not favourable to them. Still the principle 

 is there, and a very good principle too. It is one 

 which, if trained, leads, and has led, to very 

 creditable results ; for have not many of the great 

 facts of science, etc., been brought to light in this 

 way ? The results of enquiry into the mysteries of 

 the universe are very numerous. On one hand we 

 can foretell, to a certain extent, the future state 

 of the weather, the times of high and low tides, 

 when stars will be visible or not visible, when 

 comets will appear, or when the sun or moon's face 

 will be darkened to us. On the other hand look at 

 the great industrial or social improvements and 

 advances, all brought about by men searching into 

 the secrets of nature, or by men enlarging and im- 

 proving their predecessors' works. 



