THROUGH WILD EUROPE 83 



The first search for a nesting-place of Pelicans 

 having been frustrated, another locality was visited, 

 of which I had received information in Serajevo. 

 This was a lake not far from the town, but difficult 

 of access, from the extraordinary strong current, 

 against which it was almost impossible to force the 

 rude, dug-out canoe we had borrowed for the occa- 

 sion. At last, after great exertion, we succeeded in 

 navigating the narrow but impetuous stream, and 

 found ourselves in a small lake with a thick growth 

 of tall reeds all round, leaving an open space in the 

 middle. There were immense numbers of Coots 

 and White-eyed Ducks. Purple Herons were carry- 

 ing sticks and evidently beginning their nesting 

 arrangements in the reeds, but all our search failed 

 to find any sign of Pelicans or their nests. Marsh 

 Harriers were numerous, and observing one sitting 

 on what appeared from a distance to be a nest, we 

 rowed towards it. The supposed nest, however, 

 was only a pile of reeds ; but to make sure, I got 

 out of the boat and waded into the reed-bed to 

 make a more thorough search. Not many yards 

 from where the Harrier had been first seen a 

 curious-looking object was observed on the surface 

 of the water. As I approached nearer this looked 

 like a dead bird ; still nearer it was seen to be a 

 Little Bittern, but alive, and crouching motion- 

 less in a very unbirdlike attitude. I remembered 



