Reeds and Rushes. 29 



When feeding, stilts have also much the same action as 

 redshanks, especially in the way in which they continually 

 jerk their heads backwards and forwards. We found a 

 great many of their nests, and noticed that those placed 

 in swampy ground were built substantially, whereas those 

 on dryer ground were much less so, while several found 

 on quite dry ground were composed of nothing but a few 

 pieces of grass placed in a *' scoop." The birds became 

 very much agitated when their nests were approached. 

 They flew over us calling loudly, and repeatedly 

 settled within a few yards of us, seeking to attract our 

 attention by running about and jumping into the air as if 

 they were dancing, then rapidly quivering their wings and 

 with gaping beaks chattering softly and continually. While 

 watching these birds we witnessed a curious little neigh- 

 bours' quarrel. A long-legged stilt was making little 

 rushes and dabs at a couple of redshanks, which looked 

 so short and quaint compared with their tormentor, and 

 all the time the three were uttering soft, but imprecatory 

 noises (swear words we imagined) at each other. 



The marsh was full of life. There were numerous 

 tortoises, difficult to find amongst the weeds, and the 

 whole place was infested with myriads of dragon flies, 

 every rush being covered with its share of them. Once I 

 gave one of our men, who seemed to have nothing to do 

 but smoke the delicious cigarillo, a net, and showing him 

 a dragon fly told him to go and catch as many as he could, 

 as I wanted some for a friend. He went off delighted, 

 and stayed away three hours and came back with one 

 butterfly ! Cigarettes and the sun were too much for him 

 when he had once sat down out of sight. 



On one occasion as we were watching some stilts and 

 ducks a peregrine falcon suddenly appeared circling over 



