86 WILD LIFE AT HOME. 



but they were far too quick for me, and I got 

 very wet, in addition to having several narrow es- 

 capes from dropping out of sight in the numerous 

 water-holes studding the island, for my pains. 



By dint of great patience we eventually suc- 

 ceeded in capturing all three, and, placing two 

 of them inside my leather field-glass case, we 

 tethered the remaining one very carefully to 

 a solitary withy with some soft material I hap- 

 pened to have in my pocket at the time, and 

 in such a way that he could not by any 

 means hurt himself. At first he naturally resented 

 being obliged to stay in one place, but after he 

 discovered his inability to wander about amongst 

 the reeds, which I must say he did very speedily, 

 he settled down in a contented state of mind 

 to wait for and enjoy the good things his parents 

 brought him. A light breeze was blowing at the 

 time, and when the adult birds drew near with 

 a supply of food they sometimes rested for a few 

 moments in the most grotesque attitudes I ever 

 saw members of the feathered world assume. 

 Grasping a tall reed in either foot, and poising 

 their bodies perpendicularly between the two, they 

 looked exactly like miniature gymnasts climbing 

 parallel vertical poles. I was astonished at the 

 great width of grasp they could make in this way, 

 their legs sometimes appearing to shoot out almost 

 at right angles to their bodies. 



The male bird was far bolder than his com- 



