2 SCOLOPACID.E. 



end of the marsh of Zana and Chot Saboun the Stilt breeds in great abundance 

 amongst the wet grass, choosing for the position of its uest a small turf, so as just 

 to keep the eggs out of the water. Sometimes, however, this object is not 

 attained, as we occasionally found nests in which the eggs were half immersed. 

 The bird uses its long legs with much greater ease than might be expected : and 

 its long, deliberate strides, as it stalks about in search of food, are far from being 

 ungraceful. The only time they seem to be in its way is at the moment of taking 

 flight, when they hang awkwardly down till the bird, being fairly started, stretches 

 them out, extending them far beyond the tail. We used to search for the nests of 

 this bird on horseback, and, on observing one sitting, to ride up without taking 

 our eyes off the place. The bird would remain quiet till we were within thirty 

 yards of the nest, when it would walk slowly away, till, aware of our purpose, it 

 would rise and fly wheeling and screaming overhead. The young Stilt is able to 

 walk almost immediately on leaving the egg ; one we found was capable of moving 

 about while the other three were struggling to free themselves from the shell. 

 The nest is composed of a few bits of dead reed or grass. The complement of 

 eggs laid by one bird is four." 



Mr. H. Seebohm writes * : — " Few sights are more interesting to an English 

 ornithologist than a breeding colony of Stilts. If quietly approached, they may be 

 watched standing up to their knees in water, catching little tadpoles and water- 

 beetles, picking up floating shell-fish, or snapping at the gnats in the air, or the 

 water-spiders dancing on the surface of the lagoons. Perhaps it looks most elegant 

 as it trips daintily on the yellow ooze, which scarcely seems to bend beneath its 

 light weight. Sometimes two or three may be seen feeding together, Avalking 

 with deliberate graceful step, which is occasionally quickened almost into a run ; 

 but they seldom utter a note. They do not seem to be particularly shy ; and it is 

 not necessary to keep concealed amongst the reeds, except when you approach the 

 nests. Then the habits of the birds change entirely : all idea of feeding is given 

 up ; their whole attention is absorbed in the eff"ort to decoy you from the colony ; 

 they are alarmed for the safety of their eggs, and in their excitement they suddenly 

 become noisy birds. As they run along the sand, with uplifted wings, they look 

 the perfection of beauty and grace ; but they soon take wing, and try hard to lead 

 you inland to the steppe. Generally two or three fly together, looking almost like 

 miniature Storks as they pass over: the neck is outstretched and the bill is 

 slightly depressed ; whilst the long red legs, which reach considerably beyond the 

 tail, arc also extended slightly below the horizontal line. The motion of the 



* ' History of British Birds,' vol. iii. pp. 80, SI. 



