Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/298

 nest, expecting to find it covered, and the eggs destroyed, or at least forsaken by the hen, he observed, while at a distance, both birds busily engaged about the brink where the nest was placed; and when near enough, he clearly perceived that they were adding, with all possible despatch, fresh materials to raise the fabric beyond the level of the increased contents of the pond, and that the eggs had, by some means, been removed from the nest by the birds, and were then deposited upon the grass, about a foot or more from the margin of the water. He watched them for some time, and saw the nest rapidly increase in height; but I regret to add, that he did not remain long enough, fearing he might create alarm, to witness the interesting act of the replacing of the eggs, which must have been effected shortly afterwards; for upon his return, in less than an hour, he found the hen quietly sitting upon them in the newly-raised nest. In a few days afterwards, the young were hatched, and, as usual, soon quitted the nest, and took to the water with their parents. The nest was shewn to me in situ very soon afterwards, and I could then plainly discern the formation of the new with the older part of the fabric."

The young soon display a good deal of sagacity in avoiding danger, and in obeying the monitory signals of their watchful parents. Mr. Rennie says that he has seen a young brood, evidently not above two days old, dive instantaneously, even before the watchful mother seemed to have time to warn them of his approach, and certainly before