228 IN BIRD-LAND 



the reeds, and in about a quarter of an hour I either 

 saw or heard them creeping quietly up, keeping in 

 the thickest parts until the nest was reached, 

 which they still hesitated to enter. 



During the succeeding five hours I was able to 

 take three snap-shots of the hen, and one of the 

 cock as they passed the nest, not one of which 

 really proved to be a success. 



Another nest containing a brood of five was 

 discovered on this same day by one of our party, 

 and this was within ten paces of a footpath along 

 which people passed daily. This spot was certainly 

 a better situation to hide with a camera than the 

 other ; for by pressing the sedge down a seat 

 could be made, although there was plenty of water 

 underneath. The next morning I took my camera 

 there, and hoped to be more successful than on the 

 previous day, thinking that the birds would be sure 

 to come and feed their brood. When, however, I 

 had waited for an hour, I began to have doubts 

 about my success, but presently the hen approached, 

 and worked round the nest for several minutes, 

 having a green grub in her beak, and she at last 

 summoned up courage enough to give this to her 

 young, and then finding that the camera would 

 do her no harm, she soon took no notice of it. 



But it was the cock that I wanted a photograph 



