MARVELLOUSLY TAME IBISES 121 



chiefly full-grown young birds, were walking in a 

 pool of fresh water searching for food. In the 

 middle of the pool several were sitting together 

 on a bare rock. They appeared to be tame enough 

 to photograph at close quarters, so I at once 

 unpacked my tripod camera and set it in position, 

 using great care not to frighten the birds. This 

 precaution was, however, needless, for they were 

 not only quite fearless but so inquisitive that they 

 waded across the pool, and, coming close up to the 

 camera, began to peck at the tripod. We drove 

 them back to the rocks, but before a plate could 

 be exposed they were back again inspecting the 

 legs of the camera ; it was only by repeated 

 threats — a novel experience for them and for us — 

 that we could keep them far enough away to enable 

 us to get a series of photographs in proper per- 

 spective. After this we allowed them to come 

 close up, and when we had examined them at 

 very close quarters, we decided to try to catch 

 one. To our astonishment they would all allow 

 themselves to be picked up, nor did they show 

 any signs of fear when released, but merely ran 

 round our feet plucking at the tags of our boot- 

 laces. I have seen many wild birds which 

 showed Uttle fear of man, but have never come 

 across such extraordinarily familiar birds as these 

 ibises. 



We counted aU the individuals we could on this 

 part of the island, and estimated that there were 



