362 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



word ; but after some somewhat weird experiences, and after I 

 had engaged a room at the only inn, I was fortunate enough to 

 make the acquaintance of a Montenegrin law student, who spoke 

 French, besides nearly all the other European languages, English 

 and Spanish being the only ones he did not understand. His 

 assistance was simply invaluable, and by its means I was able to 

 engage men and horses, and to explore the neighbourhood. A 

 small lake was the first place visited, but, though I had been 

 told they nested there a few years ago, I failed to see a single 

 bird. Purple Herons were just beginning to build, being seen 

 carrying sticks and building materials, and Marsh-Harriers were, 

 as usual, very abundant. One Pigmy Cormorant was noticed, 

 and great quantities of Coots and Ducks. 



A Marsh-Harrier being seen sitting on what looked at a dis- 

 tance as if it might be a nest, I waded into the reeds to investi- 

 gate. There was no nest as it happened, but while searching a 

 something on the surface of the water attracted my attention. 

 It looked like a bird, but, being quite motionless, I thought it was 

 dead, and waded up to see. On getting near it proved to be a 

 Little Bittern (Ardetta minuta), and alive. The bird was crouch- 

 ing on the surface of the water in a most curious and unbird-like 

 attitude, and allowed me to come so close that I was impressed with 

 the idea to try and catch it alive. Walking slowly through water 

 up to my waist, I succeeded in grasping it round the neck, and 

 astonished my boatmen by taking it back alive. Then it sat on 

 my knee for more than an hour, making no attempt to escape, 

 but towards evening it became more lively. It was probably 

 trying to escape the notice of the Marsh-Harrier in the first 

 place, and then my arrival on the scene caused it to remain as 

 it was for the same reason. 



A few days later another locality further south was visited, 

 and here, for the first time, I saw Pelecanus crispus in a wild 

 state. On nearing the mouth of a small river three huge birds 

 flying past proved to be Pelicans, and afterwards we saw more 

 of them fishing and resting on the sand. It was not possible to 

 approach nearer than five hundred yards, and, though I tried 

 one photograph at this range, the distance was too great for it to 

 be of any practical use. We found no nests, nor could we see 

 any sign of any nesting colony. It was, however, impossible to 



