172 BIRD-HUNTING 



too late. On being approached, the young Herons 

 leave their nest and retire into the reeds, sometimes 

 going to some distance, and returning when the 

 danger has passed. On these occasions they pull 

 themselves along with their feet — the toes of which 

 have considerable grasping powers — by their man- 

 dibles, and by hitching their chins over the reeds, 

 using the beak as a hook. 



Both nests and eggs appeared to be smaller than 

 those of A. cinerea. The nests were sometimes 

 raised about two or three feet above the water, 

 others were nearly flush. The birds themselves 

 were quieter than cinerea or purpurea, and I only 

 heard low croakings while waiting at the nests. 



But they were exceedingly shy. In vain I tried 

 every dodge and artifice I could think of. One day 

 I spent hiding at a little distance with reeds tied all 

 round my waist, with a long string on to the shutter 

 of the camera. For hours I stood in the water thus 

 hidden, swaying backwards and forwards in the 

 wind like the other reeds, till I almost began to 

 think I was a reed myself. But the birds either 

 saw the hidden camera, or detected me through my 

 disguise, and obstinately refused to alight. 



Then I tried the electric camera, and this did 

 go off several times. It was lucky, however, that I 

 did not altogether trust to this plan, which has its 

 advantages for very shy birds, but at the same time 



