May 26.—The Rails, Grebes and Waterhens, and other lurkers in the reeds, are of particular interest just now, but we do not get to know much about them unless we are out in all weathers, particularly in the early hour: Just a few days ago on a foul rainy morning I saw my first Waterhen of the season. calmly swimming across a creek: in spite of my proximity she made no attempt at flight, but just paddled quietly into the reeds....and disappeared: in vain I beat the reed-tops with my stick in an attempt to get a view of her: I he one hoarse croak to let me know she was still there...but "stayed put" until she finally won the game of patience—and I went home. That same morning I heard from a passer-by that he had seen my old friends "the Podgies"—by which name I refer to the Little Grebes (Podiceps ruficollis poggei) that I had been watching all winter; so next day I paid them a visit at the pond indicated. It Seems that the Podgies, finding the weedy under growth of their winter pond too much for their daily diving operations, have moved to a nearby lagoon where there are clear spots more suitable for their work: and the most curious thing is that these very shy birds have there become quite fear t may be that ihe paths which surround their new home have made them accustomed to humans; it is possible that the natural hunger of the breeding season has made them bolder: the fact remains that they swim round looking like a couple of three-week-old ducklings, and when they dive in search of food they come popping up within a few feet of the spot where they submerged...right under the guns so to speak. And here is a curious thing. This pond is coated with "duckweed" through which they easily slip when submerging (for everybody, including the Podgies. must know that Duckweed only has floating roots)....and when they come up again they are coated with the green weed which makes a perfect camouflage to protect them from any birds of prey ing above. So now I am wondering if thi one more of Nature's little tricks?—r.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.