THE SPOONBILL. 9 



wings. Unfortunately it was several minutes' work to 

 readjust the camera and regain a reasonable position, 

 and the birds, sweeping round and round overhead, 

 would not fail to notice the shaking of the reeds 

 and the divergent ripples radiating from the " thing " 

 standing now none too motionless in the midst of their 

 nursery. 



That they would not soon regain composure 

 was only to be expected after such obvious signs 

 of life within the tent, but hour after hour passed 

 slowly by and the colony remained in a state of 

 turmoil and alarm, none of the nearer birds returning, 

 while those more distant which ventured back did not 

 stay for long together, but kept joining those on wing. 

 Two, three, four hours and still there was little abatement 

 in their agitation, and it seemed as if it was useless waiting 

 longer. But just then the brilliant sunshine disappeared, 

 and almost immediately a deep gloom fell upon everything 

 The bright green reeds were turned a dull leaden colour. 

 The Reed-Warblers stopped their noisy chattering song, 

 and the distant Purple Herons ceased to " squork " ; 

 the whole of life seemed stilled by the same power 

 that had put out the sun. In a few moments a long 

 rumbling peel of thunder trundled its heavy course 

 across the marsh, and scarcely had it died away 

 before the rain began. At first a big drop here and there, 

 then all at once it came. Never have I known its equal. 

 The noise made by the mingled hail and rain falling on 

 those endless acres of broad-leafed reeds was something 

 terrific and quite incredible, and I will confess to some 

 alarm, for when it first broke with a great roar 

 across the reed-bed I felt certain that a cloud- 

 burst was at hand. It poured through the hiding- 

 tent in streams, and speedily the portion of my 

 body above water was as wet as that beneath, 

 and I was in that fortunate condition when 

 further rain is a matter of supreme indifference. But 



