PLATE II 

 H K R O N. Ardea cinerea 



April 9//r, 1894. This nest was photographed in a small plantation on a 

 steep hillside in Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire. There were only two nests, in low 

 Scotch-fir trees about fourteen feet from the ground. I noticed that there was 

 an excellent place of concealment in a thick tree about twelve yards from the 

 nest, and conceived the idea of photographing the old bird on its nest from 

 there ; so I prepared a seat for myself in the thickest part of it, surrounding 

 it with branches, and had a string from there to my camera, which I placed 

 all ready focussed in a tree overlooking the nest. I waited about four hours 

 in my ambush, but the old bird was so scared by the camera that she would not 

 come near the nest. 



I took down my camera and fastened up a large biscuit -box covered 

 with green baize in the same place, and left it there all night. The old bird 

 was on its nest as usual in the morning, so I put up my camera again in 

 the same place and got it all focussed and set, and covered it with the green 

 baize, leaving the lens looking out, and retired to my ambush. 



Presently the old bird returned and flew round and round the wood 

 croaking, but evidently noticed that some change had been made in the green 

 baize cloth, and it was very nearly five hours before she alighted on the nest. 



I waited anxiously for her to sit down on her eggs, but she stood with 

 head erect for nearly ten minutes, during which time I scarcely dared to breathe ; 

 but at last to my intense relief she turned her eggs carefully with her bill, 

 and after poking them between her legs settled herself on the nest. I 

 waited till she was quite settled, and then pulled the string, with the result 

 in the Plate. 



VOL. n. L 4' 



