THE CENTRAL AFRICAN STONE-CURLEW 79 
A plan of action is quickly formed, a screen of reeds built 
a few feet from the nest conceals the camera placed low down 
behind them and, as it is the writer’s custom wherever possible 
to hide with the camera so as to facilitate plate-changing and 
also the better to study the sitter close at hand, a shallow 
trench is scooped in the sand in which the observer lies down, his 
head concealed by the camera and its cloth, while the canoe-men 
quickly cover his legs and body with sand and then go off 
in the canoe further along, so as to reassure the bird. 
A more comfortable hiding place it would be hard to find, 
as the soft sand accommodates itself to all one’s bony points 
and soon a plaintive whistle announces the bird’s return. 
Cautiously peering under the camera one is delighted to find 
the female, after a quiet inspection of the structure, seem 
convinced that there was notl ing to fear and so boldly walk up 
to her eggs at which she seems to gaze pensively for a few 
seconds. Finding all in order she sat down till the click of 
the shutter sent her across the stream once more, where her 
mate was waiting, thus giving the photographer time to 
change the plate and reset the shutter. So bold is the bird that 
several plates are exposed in quick succession, each showing 
the bird in a different attitude but, since our editor strictly 
limits the number of illustrations, I can show only one which is 
most characteristic of this bird. Latterly the bird did not move 
off even for the click of the shutter, but having taken enough 
photos the photographer settled down to watch the bird on the 
nest, as it settled into its usual position facing the camera. 
How cautiously at first she had approached, and while her more 
timid mate kept running up and down the bank of the stream 
uttering uneasy cries as if cautioning his mate against her too 
great temerity. However, quite unheeding she walks up to 
the nest and, after a glance at the camera as if to reassure herself, 
she gazes at the eggs for a few moments, then with a quick 
motion she sidles breast firsfc on to the eggs and shuffles around 
till a comfortable position is found. 
One has a splendid opportunity of watching the bird and 
noting its curiously shaped head with its eyes apparently 
bulging out of its head. How large too they seem with their 
great circles of pale yellow stripes staring solemnly at one, 
