LITTLE STINT. 391 



It wheeled round us at some distance and alighted on the 

 ground about eighty yards ahead. We walked slowly up 

 towards it, and stood for some time watching it busily em- 

 ployed in preening its feathers. By-and-by we sat down. It 

 presently began to run towards 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 approaching within eighteen inches. 

 It was a most interesting and beautiful sight. The tame- 

 ness 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 distance ahead 

 of me ; but instead of retreating with the utmost apparent 

 nonchalance, she did everything in her power to attract me 

 still further. 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 and missed. 

 He followed her for some distance ; but she kept just out 

 of range, and finally flew away. We waited about a quarter 

 of an hour at the nest, talking and making no effort to 

 conceal ourselves, when she flew straight up and alighted 



