My Pond and Its Occupants. 
2.S1 
chicks, unlike the young Moorhens, being quite unable t o run 
over the soft mud, perished miserably. The old birds soon 
went to nest again and five eggs were laid; four of which 
duly hatched. It is most interesting to watch the old ones 
feeding them. About three times every minute each parent 
will dive and return to their young with some choice tit-bit; 
then follows a short spell of rest, the young returning to the 
nest for their siesta. Then off they go again. When I dis- 
turbed them by photographing the nest, the cock promptly 
built two or three other nests in ^different parts of the pond, 
to which the young could be taken when they were tired.i 
They alwavs returned to their own nest at night, and I was 
thus enabled to get a tew photos, i may remark here that 
Dabchicks are not good subjects for the camera, as not only 
are they naturally shy birds, but are extremely quick in their 
movements. 
To a lover of nature, a very pleasant evening can be 
spent or. the banks of this pond, watching the movements 
of the various birds. If one only keeps perfectly quiet, very 
little notice is taken of one's presence. Both the Dabchicks 
and the Red-crested Pochard will continue their diving opera- 
tions. The Moorhens will lead their little ones across the watei- 
Little Grebe and Young. 
