38 THE HOME-LIFE OF 
crouch instantly, and remain flat and motionless until 
they felt that the cause of alarm had passed. Then they 
would raise their heads, only to lower them again at the 
next passage of the old bird over the nest. 
While I was watching these proceedings, and impatiently 
wishing for the parent to become more accommodating, 
I was delighted to see the male suddenly appear with a 
fish in his talons and fly over the nest (Plate 30a). ‘The 
morning light was still so weak, that I was unable to make 
an exposure of sufficient rapidity to insure an absolutely 
sharp picture, although the resulting photograph shows 
pretty satisfactorily the method of carrying the fish. 
He circled about, and as he again approached the nest, 
he released his hold on the fish with the hinder (in this 
case the left) talon, which was brought forward to grasp 
the nest and affect a landing (Plate 30b). I had only time 
to change my plate before the female unexpectedly appeared, 
and sweeping down, alighted beside her mate (Plate 31). 
In the meantime, there had been no attempt made to feed 
the young with the fish, which the male still held under 
his foot. 
With visions of a long series of pictures illustrating the 
feeding operation at close range, I eagerly got my camera 
in all readiness. Suddenly, without warning, both old birds 
flew from the nest. ‘The male, carrying the fish with him, 
circled about a few times and then, much to my disappoint- 
ment, alighted on a drift-log a short distance down the 
beach. Of all actions this, I knew from experience, was the 
least indicative of future success, and hope of his prompt 
return to the nest was further dissipated when I saw him 
bend over and start leisurely eating the fish. In the mean- 
time the female had completely disappeared. In vain I 
waited ; neither bird evinced the slightest interest in the 
nest. After half an hour I was obliged to depart, whereupon 
the male flew up with the fish, of which he had eaten but 
little. Although I removed the blind, he still avoided 
the nest like something bewitched, and settled again on 
