342 THE STONE-CURLEW 



near the nest, they will take advantage of the cover afforded by it ; 

 not by entering it, but by running along its edge. 



They are equally cautious when returning to their nests ; they 

 always approach on foot, very leisurely, and occasionally stopping to 

 pick up something to eat. When within a few yards of the nest they 

 will stand and gaze around, or preen their feathers for a while, but 

 this hesitation near the nest is generally, I think, due to suspicion of 

 the hiding tent. If there is no disturbing influence they go straight 

 to the nest, with head tucked back into shoulders, and the little 

 paddling steps when travelling quickly ; but when quite near the nest 

 there is a change, the head is held lower on slightly extended neck, 

 and the steps are slow and deliberate. A nervous bird will some- 

 times remain for half an hour or more within a few yards of the nest, 

 afraid to go on to the eggs, and yet not sufficiently alarmed to leave. 

 Not infrequently I have known them to come round to the back of 

 my hiding-place and utter an explosive sort of hissing noise, very 

 difficult to describe, and no doubt expressive of disapproval or anger. 

 This noise resembles in modified form the whumph, whumph of the 

 great-bustard. They will also, when kept by fear from the eggs, squat 

 down and practically brood stones on the ground. 



Yery rarely I have seen one joined by its mate, and the two 

 wander about for a time in the vicinity of the nest ; but when ulti- 

 mately one of them has gone away, and the other has come on to 

 the nest, I have never been able to say for certain whether the latter 

 was the first arrival, nor have I ever seen one take the place of the 

 other on the eggs ; but see the " Classified Notes." 



I have only once heard a bird call when near the nest ; it had 

 been standing about for some time, distrustful of the heap of 

 branches that concealed my camera, when a bird, probably its mate, 

 called from lower down the warren. The bird at the nest became 

 quietly interested, and stretching out its neck called in reply dhu-le- 

 eep, dhu-le-eep the first two syllables short and somewhat indistinct, 

 the last long drawn and shrill but to my ears there were distinctly 



