306 Pictures of Bird Life 



As soon as he had really gone, after cutting down some 

 of tlie reeds round the most exposed nests, which were utilised 

 in making a screen to hide myself and the camera. I waited 

 as patiently as I could, standing in tlie water and crouching 

 behind my improvised shelter for about three or four hom-s. 

 All this time the Spoonbills flew round and round overhead. 

 At first their circles were ^ery wide and high in the air ; 

 but gradually they came closer and closer, and lower and 

 lower still, till presently they were skimming along just 

 o\'er the reeds, and, when passing their nests, would drop 

 their legs, as if going to aliglit. But their minds would 

 misgive tliem, and round tliey would go once more. 



At last, however, first one and tlien another actuallv 

 alighted, until I coidd see seven or eight Spoonbills standing 

 on their nests all round me, their crests waviu"- in tlie wind, 

 and their orange gorgets plainly \'isible. Between us, howcAcr, 

 were too many reeds wa^ ing about in the wind to make a 

 successful photograph possible. The birds wliicli belonged 

 to the nest I was waiting for obstinately refused to alight, 

 being e\'idently suspicious of the clearing I liad made : and. 

 after waiting so long, part of tlie time in a heavy rain- 

 storm, I was eventually obliged to gi^'e it up and signal for 

 the punt. 



AVhile waiting in am])iish here, a Purple Heron had been 

 noticed in an isolated clump of tall rushes at a little distance. 

 The water was too deep to permit of approaching it until 

 the arrival of the " lancha." when we found there a nest and 

 five eggs. 



