66 BRITISH BIRDS. 



two years young- birds have been shot at the end of the 

 summer, so that, although the nest which I have had the 

 good fortune to photograph this summer is the first which 

 has been recorded since 1889, it is not improbable that 

 others may have existed undiscovered. 



My excitement was intense when about two o'clock in 

 the afternoon of June loth last, a keeper suddenly 

 dropped into my cabin, without announcing himself, and 

 told me he had found a Reeve's nest containing four eggs. 



We set off at once with my camera, and in a very short 

 time T was standing about eight feet from the sitting bird. 

 At first I could scarcely see her, as with head low down 

 she crouched in her nest, until she seemed as a part of the 

 surrounding herbage. 



We remained motionless some time, the Reeve and 

 myself, while the keeper returned to the cabin for a hand 

 camera. After a while, and before the hand camera 

 arrived, the Reeve suddenly flew away, and then I was 

 able to begin preparations for photographing. 



On this first occasion the preparations were rough and 

 hasty, as I was keen to begin my task. First of all the 

 eggs were exchanged with those of a Redshank, so that I 

 might have no compunction in keeping the Reeve off the 

 nest for several hours at a stretch. 



The nest, which closely resembled that of a Redshank, 

 was placed in a tussock of rushes in the midst of low 

 swampy ground, near to a dyke, and scarcely fifty yards 

 from a well-used waterway. 



A hurdle thatched with reeds was fii"st placed on the 

 ground about five feet from the nest, and on this was 

 heaped some rough litter, and over all was spread an 

 oilskin coat. On this I esconced myself with the camera, 

 and then the keeper covered me up with rough sedge and 

 grass. 



On the first day my chance was spoilt owing to a heavy 

 thunderstorm which raged for upwards of an hour just 

 after I had settled into my cover. I dared not move, for 

 the Reeve was never far off, so when she came I dropped 



