30 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



retiring the bird flew up and almost alighted, but at the 

 last moment, thinking better of it, she resumed her course. 

 Rather more than an hour passed without her reappear- 

 ance, and I must have momentarily taken my eyes 

 off the nest, for hearing a slight noise overhead, I looked 

 up and had the rare pleasure of seeing her standing 

 on the edge of the nest, stooping forward to survey its 

 contents (Plate 22). Unfortunately, after each exposure 

 it was necessary to climb the tree in order to change 

 the plate, and this meant renewed alarm on the part 

 of the bird, and a consequent lengthy wait for her 

 return. 



This bird, or I should say, these two birds, for it 

 was found that both took part in incubation, were 

 the most exasperating of any we have met, for instead 

 of getting more familiar with the camera's presence, 

 their fears steadily increased until on our next visit they 

 absolutely refused to return, only flying past the nest a 

 few times during the eight hours I was in hiding. 



A pair of Carrion-Crows, which had their nest, now 

 almost completed, at the other end of the wood, helped 

 to pass the time. On seeing these Heron's eggs so long 

 untended they began to take a keen interest in them, 

 wondering if in truth they were deserted. At first they 

 just flew quickly over, one following the other at a distance, 

 each as it passed turning its evil head to stare greedily at 

 the pale blue eggs lying in the nest. Gradually they 

 became bolder, flying together and more slowly. Little by 

 little they poised in their fl^ht and seemed about to 

 alight, but as often courage failed them, and they flapped 

 on, low over the trees. Then they tried to exhort each 

 other, flying boldly up and cawing loudly, scolding each 

 other when they passed ; but it was no use, they dared 

 not take the final step. Often they got as far as to drop 

 their legs preparatory to alighting, and as often at the last 

 moment thought better of it, and with desperate flapping 

 managed to resume flight. 



