THE SPOONBILL. 3 



should prove unsatisfactory there would always be the 

 other to fall back upon without altering the position of the 

 screen, and as events turned out it was well this precaution 

 was observed. The fixing of the tent did not prove so easy 

 a matter as usual. The rods forming the framework had 

 to be thrust a long way down beneath the surface in 

 order to reach something more substantial than mud and 

 water, and as a result the height , inside the tent was 

 reduced by about one-half. Still, this was deemed an 

 advantage (by those who were not going to occupy it), 

 especially as it was pointed out that it would be necessary 

 for the photographer to sink a like distance into the 

 mud before finding a firm bottom ! True, the more of 

 both that was under the surface the less would there be 

 above for the birds to see and be afraid of, and so we 

 set about covering the tent with reeds. 



Old Jan had seen us make a hiding-screen before and, 

 remembering the tedious work of cutting the tough stems 

 with a penknife, had brought a short-handled scythe 

 with him, and now, while we busied ourselves with the 

 camera, he commenced mowing with such a will that 

 before we realised what was afoot he had half filled the 

 boat : his mowing not tending to lessen our already 

 ugly track through the reeds. 



Having given the birds two days in which to get 

 accustomed to the strange thing standing in their midst, 

 we returned early on the morning of the 17th. This 

 time, knowing exactly where the colony lay, we were 

 just able to catch a glimpse, up the channel made by our 

 previous progress, of a motionless white figure, which 

 immediately after, in company with the rest of the 

 colony, sprang into the air. On reaching the tent all 

 was found as we had left it, and so perfectly was it hidden 

 by reeds, thanks to Jan's scything, and so well did it 

 harmonise with its surroundings, that we had little 

 doubt of the birds' early return. 



All being in readiness, I slipped over the side of the 



