With strong strokes the pirate rows through his element. Nothing is safe from him. He feeds on the small Frogs and Snakes, Carp, Trout and White Fish. Like the Shark in the ocean, the blood-thirsty tyrant is master of the surroundings in every fresh water settlement. He snatches young Ducks, and often destroys whole broods. He is the destroyer of Pond Hens if they come within his reach. With brutal grip he drags the young Hen into the depths of the water, nor does he spare the old ones. Under the mirrory surface he chases the harmless family, until he has destroyed every one. The Reed Hen avoids the spot where the Pike is found.
If everything is favorable, young Reed Hen are able to take care of themselves after the first two or three weeks, and the old ones go about their second hatching. When these are hatched the picture is still more interesting, as the older children take care of the younger and help the parents feed them, making a picture of a prosperous, flourishing family. So they continue during the whole summer and by the beginning of autumn the whole pond is filled with the neat little Birds, until suddenly one morning they have all disappeared towards their winter quarters.
They return the next spring, intending to settle where they were born, but now circumstances are changed. Last year’s Chicks are able to take care of themselves and want to build in their own home, and naturally search for the old familiar pond, but here arises trouble. Only one pair is allowed in the old home. The parents jealously defend their chosen spot against all intruders; and as loving and kind as they nurse their young in childhood, now that they are grown up they see in them only intruders, whom they must disperse with force. This often causes bitter strife until the district has been cleared.
WADING BIRDS WITH LONG BILLS.
The Birds composing this family are characterized by a long and flexible bill, which is well adapted for boring in the mud and soft ground. They are usually found in the marshes or along the shore, yet some species spend the greater part of their time inland. Among them are found the Woodcocks, Snipes, Sandpipers, Turnstones, Ruffs, Knots, Godwits, Curlews and Ibis.
THE WOODCOCK.
WOODCOCK.
The Common Woodcock has a very long, straight and slender bill, and a flattened head. These Birds live in the woods, and seldom frequent the shore or river banks. They differ from the Snipes in having a fuller body and broader wings. They are shy, timid Birds, and conceal themselves by day in the depths of the most retired woods. The brightness of daylight appears to dazzle them, and they do not seem to see clearly until evening when they leave their retreats to seek their food of worms and grubs in the cultivated fields, damp meadows or near springs.
The Woodcock lays four or five oval eggs rather larger than those of the Pigeon. The young Birds run about as soon as they are hatched, and the parent Birds guard them with great care. If any danger threatens, the old Birds catch up their little ones, holding them under their necks by means of their beaks, and thus carry them to a place of safety.