Sagacity of Birds.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3423, 31 January 1890, Page 2

Sagacity of Birds.

During the early part of tho summer of 1885 a pair of water liensi built their nest by the margin of the ornamental pond at Bell's Hill-a piece of water of considerable'extent, and ordinarily fed by a spring .from the height above, hat into which tho contents of a jarge 'pond oan occasionally he admitted. This was dona while tli« femalqwas fitting and as

"""7 ~ the nest had beon built when the water-level stood" low, the sudden; influx ot this largo body of water ; from the second pond caused a rise s of several .inches, so as to threaten the speedy immersion, and cor.se.:, queut destruction, of the eggs, This,; the birds seem to have beenaware of, ; . and immediately took precautions : against.,so. imminent n danger, foi;,,, when; the " gardener, seeing tho; sudden': rise of the water, went to look after (lie nest) expecting, to' find •... it covered, he observed, whilst at ttiiß distance, both birds busily about tho brink where the cest was- <, placed, and when ne'ar- enough Ho, v. clearly perceived ; that they wera adding, with all pbssible' despatch;; /' fresh materials to. raise. thoL' fobrio beyond 4behevel.of,the jn ; !) creased contents of the pond, and thai; the eggs had been removed from the* nest by the birds, and wore then deposited,on the grass about a foot ov ; more from the margin of .tlie waterj ; He watched them for some time, and V saw the nest increase rapidly ill height, but I regret to add that ho did not remain long enough to witness the interesting act ol replacing thii ; eggs, but upon his return in less thaii. \ an hour he! found the hen sitting upon, them in their newly;... raised nost. The'nest was shown to .£ me in situ shortly after, and I could plainly perceive tho formation of the now with tiio older part of the fabric. ■ Glimps'esof Animal Life," by W. ; Jones, F.S.A. ■' ' , ; , I