THE GREAT WHITE HERON. 443 



the exercise of niy whole strength and weight, while it was im- 

 possible to see more than a yard on each side of me. 



At last I found a nest like a Purple Heron's perched up in the 

 reeds, containing four eggs, but, as the Common Herons were 

 evidently nesting there too, it was absolutely necessary to make 

 perfectly sure without the possibility of any mistake as to which 

 species they belonged. Eetiring, therefore, to a little distance, 

 I waited, motionless and hidden, as well as I could manage, until 

 a pair of veritable Arclea alba hovered over the nest, preparing 

 to alight on it. Only those who have experienced the difficulties 

 and disappointments of such a prolonged search can appreciate 

 the delight with which I watched them, and realized that at last 

 I had succeeded in my quest. 



After some much-needed refreshments I hurried back to the 

 spot with the camera, and it will serve to give some idea of the 

 denseness of the reeds when I relate that two of us searched in 

 vain for that nest for more than two hours, though I thought I 

 had left a track to it plainly visible. However, after completely 

 losing ourselves, we had to give it up until the next day. And 

 then we spent two more hours before we found it again. In the 

 interval one of the four eggs had hatched, and the other three 

 were on the point of doing the same. It was with great difficulty 

 that these three eggs were saved as eggs. 



During our search several other nests were found, but no 

 more eggs. All the rest held young ; some only a few days 

 old, others nearly half-grown, the young cinerea being nearly 

 fledged. On being approached the young birds leave the nests, 

 and crawl through the reeds to some distance, returning when 

 the danger has passed. On these wanderings they use the beak 

 bent at an angle like a hook, and by hitching their chins over 

 the reeds pull themselves along, and also by taking hold of the 

 reeds between the mandibles. 



Both nests and eggs seem to be somewhat smaller than those 

 of A. cinerea. The nests were sometimes raised about three feet 

 above the water, at others almost flush. The adult birds are 

 quieter than cinerea or purpurea, and I only heard low croakings 

 while waiting at their nests. They are exceedingly timid, and I 

 spent six days in this reed-bed before I could succeed in obtain- 

 ing a photograph. Every plan I could think of was tried in 



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