79 [page number] 
[7.7.49] only the sound of the reed-bed - the 
rustle of the tops in the wind, the smallest 
noises of water, the BLUE-WRENS, and 
from time to time the varied calls of 
the crakes themselves. Three calls were 
heard - one like water entering the 
submerged neck of a bottle (imitated by 
the watchers in the hope of attracting them), 
one like a motor-bike starting up and 
a third rather like the call of a swan. 
Eventually a bird poked its head 
out and back - possibly a second's 
view of a dark head and beady eye. 
It was nearer Bruce than me so he 
suggested extending the line break from 
his end so that I could come nearer 
the birds. He had just begun to 
walk backwards, trampling the reeds when 
he let out a call of dismay and 
picked up from the water an egg. Another 
was found nearby and above, a foot or 
so up was a nest of thin reeds woven 
round the stout stems of the large variety 
