FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 181 



came and stood in the entrance of the nest for 

 some time. She was very handsome, very blue grey with a 

 strongly marked cheek band ; after letting her stand some- 

 time I gave a sharp instantaneous exposure. She winced at 

 the sound of the shutter and finally took flight ; but was 

 evidently less nervous. 



1.0. One of the birds, I thought the cock, came to the 

 entrance of the nest, apparently without food. He remained 

 about 5 minutes scrutinizing the tent very minutely ; 

 apparently it was the lens to which he objected, as I felt sure 

 he was unable to see into the tent. E.H.C. took on at 1 

 o'clock ; he notes as follows : 



2.0. Neither bird back. Before I came into the tent the 

 male and female soared off in great circles, rising higher and 

 higher, and floating away on the wind, which was N.E., until 

 they were mere specks in the sky, and I lost sight of them. 



I think all birds have a slack time from 12.30 until about 



3 o'clock. As a rule everything is fairly quiet in the birdy 

 way between those hours. 



2.30. I heard one of the birds saying " Ttchock, tchock, 

 tchock, tchock," but the juveniles did not answer. I could 

 not see the bird anywhere. 



2.40. I heard " tweek, tweek, tweek, tweek," 4 syllables 



4 times running at intervals, to which the juveniles replied. 

 2.45. No further sign of the bird, but the juveniles kept 



on with a little call of " cheep, cheep, cheep, " like little 

 gentle chickens, but a little harsher, still, not at all in 

 accordance with their role in after life. 



2.55. W.P.C. arrived to see how I was getting on, and the 

 female quitted the nest, so she had evidently slipped in 

 between 2.45 and his arrival. 



3.55. One of the birds came to the nest, but did not 

 settle. 



4.0. The female came and I prepared to give her a quick, 

 quiet time exposure ; but she did not stay many seconds, as the 

 tent wagged and she left, but took up a position on a ledge 

 close at hand. 



