CHAP. xxi. LITTLE STINT. 273 



us, stopping now and then to preen a feather or two ; then 

 it turned back a few paces, and lifting its wings settled 

 down, evidently on its nest. We gave it three minutes' 

 grace, to be quite sure, and then quietly walked up to the 

 place, and sat down, one on each side of the eggs. The bird 

 as quietly slipped off the nest, and began to walk about all 

 round us, now and then pecking on the ground as if feeding, 

 seldom going more than six feet from us, and often ap- 

 proaching within eighteen inches. It was a most interesting 

 and beautiful sight. The tameness of the bird was almost 

 ludicrous. We chatted and talked ; but the bird remained 

 perfectly silent, and did not betray the slightest symptom 

 of fear or concern, until I touched the eggs. She then gave 

 a flutter towards me, apparently to attract my attention. I 

 turned towards her, and she resumed her former unconcern. 

 I stretched my hand towards her. She quietly retreated, 

 keeping about two feet from my hand. She seemed so 

 extremely tame that I almost thought for the moment that 

 I could catch her, and getting on to all fours I crept quietly 

 towards her. As soon as I began to move from the nest, her 

 manner entirely changed. She kept about the same dis- 

 tance ahead of me ; but instead of retreating, with the utmost 

 apparent nonchalance, she did everything in her power to 

 attract me still farther. She shuffled along the ground as 

 if lame. She dropped her wings as if unable to fly, and 

 occasionally rested on her breast, quivering her drooping 

 wings and spread tail, as if dying. I threw one of my 

 gauntlets at her, thinking to secure her without damage, 

 but she was too quick for me. Piottuch then fired at her, 



