WOOD AND WASTE 103 



teddy bears, formidably mouthed and beaked. 



On the 10th manuka poles, hidden by the 

 tall reeds, were erected a few yards from 

 the nest, and cross pieces lashed to them. 

 Next day raupo, in an upright, natural 

 position, was thickly fastened on to these, 

 and finally the sham camera put into 

 position. 



So far all had gone well, and throughout 

 these various operations the Harrier con- 

 tinued to sit. We now had to clear the 

 raupo between the lens and nest. 



This was done as quickly as possible, and 

 after finding the focus and fixing up the 

 real camera, an instant retreat was made. 

 All was now ready, and about eight the 

 following morning I took up my position 

 in the raupo shell, but after several 

 hours' bootless waiting, had to give it up, 

 and came away, thinking the birds extra- 

 ordinarily shy certainly, but suspecting 

 nothing more. 



I believed then that the Harriers must be 

 feeding their young late in the evening or 

 early in the morning, while yet there was 

 not light enough for photography, and 



