8 BRITISH BIRDS. 



nest cautiously I found the hen bird sitting on her eggs, 

 so I set up the camera at about four yards distance and 

 succeeded in making a couple of exposures. This photo- 

 graph (Fig. 1) shows well the extraordinary protective 

 colouring of the bird amidst her natural surroundings. 

 On my attempting to move the camera a little closer, the 

 bird left her eggs and flew with an undulating flight across 

 the valley. Having exposed some plates on the nest and 

 eggs (Fig. 2), I decided to attempt nothing more till the 

 young were hatched. 



A fortnight later I determined to try my luck with the 

 old birds. As we drew near both birds were seen to walk 

 slowly away from the nest, for about fifteen yards, when 

 they rose together and flew off across the valley. 



I set up my camera about five feet from the nest, and 

 seating myself below the tripod, was covered up with a 

 green cloth by my companion, who then walked away. 

 In about half-an-hour one of the birds appeared with its 

 bill full of grubs, and uttering all the while a plaintive 

 note it walked very slowly all round my hiding-place, 

 and made a careful scrutiny of the strange object which 

 had so rudely disturbed its privacy. 



Just as the bird was gaining confidence and seemed to 

 be on the point of approaching the nest, a flock of sheep 

 came through the fence from the neighbouring field and 

 catching my wind came sniffing right up to me ; I was 

 afraid they would trample on the nest, so was obliged to 

 jump up and show myself. Owing to a high wind which 

 was blowing the green cloth occupied much of my attention, 

 and I determined to build a more substantial hiding-place ; 

 accordingly we approached the farmer who owned the 

 land, and he most courteously offered to remove all his 

 sheep from the field and even gave us a hand in erecting 

 a hut, which we had no difficulty in doing, owing to the 

 proximity of the beech fence, which was in full foliage. 



The next morning I took up my position full of hope 

 and waited. In less than ten minutes both birds appeared 

 with their bills full of small grubs, and after a good look 



