SOME STRANGE INCIDENTS 143 



In the summer of 1920 I constructed an observation post overlooking a 

 Heron's nest ; and, as explained in the chapter on Herons, arranged that its 

 construction should cover a period of some weeks. Consequently, when I 

 ultimately decided to try for photographs, I had not visited the place for 

 some days. 



I was, nevertheless, surprised to find inside it, on the small piece of sack- 

 ing that sagged down behind my branch-seat, a small handful of twigs, and 

 on them a Stock-Dove's egg ! 



As I could not possibly sit down, as things were, without smashing the 

 egg, I picked up both it and the nest, and placed them in my pocket. When I 

 had at length satisfactorily arranged things, and was waiting for the retTirn 

 of the Heron, I decided, in order to avoid accidentally crushing the egg, to 

 put it in another sag in the canvas on my right. So, withdrawing most of 

 the twigs from my pocket, I roughly arranged them, and then laid the egg in 

 position. 



Some time later, when my thoughts were concentrated on the young 

 Herons opposite, I heard a bird fluttering about amongst the withered branches 

 with which the observation post was camouflaged, and guessed at once that it 

 was the Stock-Dove, who, since I had closed the entrance after getting inside, 

 was unable to get in ! 



Its failure, however, was certainly not due to lack of persistence, for it 

 fluttered to the back and front and sides, endeavouring to find an entrance ; 

 and eventually managed to squeeze in between the edge of the canvas and a 

 branch of the tree. 



For some time it stood, with head on one side, and stretched forward, 

 trying to make out, in the darkness, what kind of a thing I was. 



I need hardly say that I sat absolutely still, for I did not want to scare 

 the bird, and in fact, welcomed a visitor to brighten my dull hours of waiting. 

 And at length the little pigeon, having satisfied itself that all was well, stepped 

 forward to where I had placed the egg. 



To my surprise he — for it was presumably the male bird — began to coo 

 heartily, and placing one foot on the egg, moved it about as though testing 

 its quahty, or admiring its shape ; then he lowered his head, and nibbled 

 at it with his beak, perhaps to satisfy himself as to its really being the right one. 



And then, walking to the hole by which he had entered, he forced himself 

 through the opening, and fluttered on to a branch outside. 



He was evidently dissatisfied with the nest, for, having fluttered about once 

 more among the decorations of the observation post, he again returned, this 

 time with a tiny piece of twig — about Ij inches long — in his beak ! 



This fine contribution having been laid by the side of the egg, the little 

 pigeon commenced to coo proudly ; evidently well pleased with what he had 

 done. 



