GRUS COMMUNIS. 6] 
near, but some steps to the west was a nearly dead birch. On a 
branch of this I hung a strip of white bark, and took a line that I 
might know the exact position from Thrush-wood. I had previously 
walked round, expecting that the bird might be crouching near, 
though indeed there was scarcely any cover. On feeling at the eggs 
I found them quite cold. I saw that there was scarcely anything 
between them and the rising ground of the wood, and I thought I 
might even see them with a glass therefrom. Quickly leaving the 
place, we went up and made a hut of fir-branches in which I was to 
lie well concealed, and so placed that as I lay upon the ground I 
could rest my glass on a log and watch the nest at my leisure. I had 
taken one of the eggs in my hand, and I wished to see whether the 
bird would detect the handling, and whether she would carry them 
off under her wing to another place, as Cranes are said todo. Inow 
crept into my den. Ludwig gave the finishing touch, and went to 
the other side of the wood, where he was to make a fire to sleep by, 
but on no account to come to me, for fear it should just be at a 
critical moment. There were a good many birds about—flocks of 
Ruffs, one of which, with a white frill, at first seemed to me in the 
distance an unknown bird. Wood-Sandpipers were piping, and I 
once or twice heard the keet-koot of a Snipe. <A cock Pintail flew 
near, and settled ina pool calling for his mate. Other whistling wings 
were heard overhead, Divers wailing in the distance, and the barking 
of Cifverbyn dogs. I heard the suppressed hacking of wood, and 
the crackling of Ludwig’s fire. It might be eleven [P.m.] when I lay 
down, and for an hour or more nothing was to be seen at the nest. 
Fieldfares were playing in the wood—one came pecking about my feet, 
and another settled just over my back, screaking so as almost to make 
my ears ache. Three times I heard the flap of great wings passing 
over me, and I think it was the Cranes, but I only thought I once or 
twice heard the chuckle of them. The nest might be from three to 
four hundred yards off—my glass constantly upon it. At last I saw 
a great Crane stalking from among the bushes, of which there were 
several beyond the nest. She came up with her graceful walk, head 
up, but raised it a little higher and pointed the beak to take a look 
at the piece of bark, which I had pegged upasamark. She probably 
saw that her eggs were safe, then took a march of twenty or thirty 
yards in the swamp, pecking and apparently feeding. At the end she 
stood for nearly a quarter of an hour, sometimes pecking and some- 
times still, but shewing no symptom of suspicion. Then she turned 
and passed back to the left of the nest; but soon came into exactly 
