RETURN OF THE BITTERN. 91 



distance away. We kept our eyes carefully on 

 this spot for about a quarter of an hour, after which the 

 Bittern rose and returned in the sanae leisurely manner 

 to the place where I had first seen her get up. She 

 repeated this journey to and fro three tinaes before 4.30. 



We next had to decide which of these two spots contained 

 the nest and which was the feeding-ground only. From 

 the nature of the marsh we concluded that the nest, or 

 young, must be somewhere near the place where we saw 

 the bird first drop ; and from her manner of working, we 

 decided in our own minds that the young were 

 scattered. 



We then moved to a big alder tree, up which Vincent 

 and another watcher climbed, dragging me behind them. 

 From this, to me very uncomfortable, position, we com- 

 manded a closer view of the reed-bed, and again saw the 

 Bittern drop down into its depths. At the end of an 

 hour I feebly protested that my position was unendurable, 

 so they lowered me to a branch upon which I could stand 

 with comparative ease, while Vincent plunged into the 

 reed-bed. We immediately lost sight of him, and could 

 only judge of his whereabouts by the clouds of pollen 

 which arose at intervals from the marsh ; but that he 

 was hot upon the trail we felt certain, for the old bird 

 flew up with hoarse " honking " call-notes, six or seven 

 times, took short flights, and dropped again. Presently 

 Vincent emerged, panting and wet and unsuccessful, 

 so we adjourned for tea. 



From 6.30 to 7.30 we watched from a bank, but as 

 there was no sign of any Bittern we both plunged into 

 the reed-bed, determined to make a thorough search 

 before dark. The water was above our knees, and the 

 reeds were so dense that neither of us could see the other 

 when a few yards apart. We soon put up the old bird, 

 and then Vincent suggested that I should stand still 

 while he worked in circles round me. At last came a 

 joyful shout, " I've got one youngster ; come, quick" — and 

 I pressed forward headlong in the direction of his voice. 



