266 BIRD-HUNTING 



any human being. The only signs of life were the 

 water birds and the mosquitoes. Every few 

 yards a Purple or Grey Heron, so intent on 

 fishing in some secluded corner as to allow the 

 close approach of our boat, would start up and flap 

 off in a hurried and ungainly fashion. On the 

 matted water-lilies curious Night Herons stood, 

 with the air of pensive melancholy characteristic 

 to them, or Squacco Herons would hurry off at our 

 approach to settle farther on and resume feeding. 



The moment the sharp, upturned prow of our 

 lodka pushed through the fringe of reeds which 

 concealed some more open pool, squattering flocks 

 of Coots and White-eyed Pochards {Fuligulanyrocd) 

 would hasten into the dense growth and be lost to 

 sight. 



Presently, at the far side of a large lake we were 

 crossing, we saw a pair of Swans, and my guide 

 cautiously entered the reeds and made signs that we 

 were approaching the nest. The last hundred yards 

 we progressed with the utmost slowness and caution, 

 pulling ourselves forward with our hands ; but the 

 nest when we reached it was empty, and had not 

 been occupied for at least twenty-four hours ; so 

 that my hopes of an automatic photograph of old or 

 young, by leaving the electric camera, were doomed 

 to disappointment. 



For some time we hunted about for another nest, 



