132 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes 



in addition to the reed-beds and sallow-brakes, tussocks of 

 sedge {Cladmm mariscus) were numerously interspersed. 

 The water was not deep, and in most parts under three feet. 

 A few hours'" hai'd work produced a nest of the Little Crake 

 and several of White-ej^ed Duck, Mallard, and Coot, The 

 nest of the Crake was on a sedge-tussock about six inches 

 above the surface of the water, and occupied, not the centre, 

 but the side of the tussock ; it was a depression, amply lined 

 with short broad pieces of reed-blade, and contained seven 

 eggs. The nests of the Ducks were likewise on the tussocks. 

 Among the reed-beds a species of water-snake was numerous, 

 and when disturbed glided under water. The marsh-tortoise 

 {Kmys europcea) was also not uncommon. In the evening we 

 set out for Kupinovo, not caring to remain the night in the 

 wretched village of Obrez. 



May 25th. In the morning we made a visit of inspection 



to the " bara,^' which, it may be well here to remark, is 



a horseshoe- shaped marsh, about ten miles in length and 



half a mile in width. It has evidently been at one time 



the northern bend of the river Save, which at this point 



now takes a similar curve to the south. Kupinovo is at the 



southern extremity of the eastern arm, so to sjjeak, of the 



horseshoe. The surface of the "bara,^^ with the exception of 



a strip of open water along the margin, is a mass of reed-beds 



and sallow -brakes ; and although the water is very deep, yet 



this marsh is fast getting choked with vegetation, and in 



course of time will doubtless become quite grown up. We 



found the great colony of Herons about a mile north of 



the village and where the sallow-brake was densest. This 



breeding-station occupied a few hundred square yards in the 



centre of the " bara," and presented a most interesting sight. 



Seated on the bushes were hundreds of Sqiiacco Herons, Little 



Egrets, Night- Herons, Glossy Ibises, Pygmy Cormorants, and 



many Common Herons ; while in the centre, in an exclusive 



group, were fifty or sixty Spoonbills. Many other individuals 



of these species were busily engaged in breaking twigs and 



conveying them to their nests. Every now and then a panic 



fccemed suddenly to seize this vast assemblage, and then there 



