415 
Nesting of the Spoonbill in Holland. 
reeds growing between them. There was, however, a clear 
open space in the neighbourhood, formed of broken-down 
reeds, in which the birds were said to congregate. The 
Spoonbills nest, in the Horster Meer at least, is a mere 
flattened surface of broken reed, not elevated more than two 
or three inches above the general level of the swamp ; and no 
other substance but reed appears to be used in its construc¬ 
tion. What the proper complement of eggs would be if the 
birds were left undisturbed we cannot say; for, as in the case 
of the Cormorants, the nests are robbed systematically twice 
a week, until the period when it is known by experience that 
they cannot produce any more eggs. Then at last the birds 
are allowed to sit undisturbed. At the time of our visit the 
season for collecting eggs was just past; but we helped our¬ 
selves to eight fresh eggs, from different nests, laid since the 
last collection had been made. During all the time that we 
were in the reed-beds the Cormorants and Spoonbills were 
floating about over our heads, fully aware that there was an 
enemy in the camp. We were told that there were several 
other nesting-places of the Spoonbill in different parts of the 
Horster Meer, containing altogether several thousand nests; 
so that we may hope that it will be some time before this fine 
bird becomes extinct in this locality. 
The only other bird we found nesting in the Horster Meer 
was the Black Tern, of which we captured two young chicks. 
After refreshing ourselves at the hostelry of Overmeer, 
we returned to Amsterdam in the evening by a different route,, 
highly satisfied with our day with the Spoonbills. 
We may observe, in conclusion, that on looking over Mr. 
Dressers account of the Spoonbill in his f Birds of Europe/ 
we find him quoting from Schlegel that this bird fC is found 
in the neighbourhood of the large rivers, at Biesboch, Nieuw- 
erkerk, on the Yssel at Rozenburg, and on the Maas: and 
breeds in Holland, arriving there in April and leaving in 
September/' Again, a few pages further on, Mr. Dresser 
says, “ It breeds in Holland; but I do not find any record of 
its having of late been found nesting elsewhere in Northern 
Europe, though in Hungary and South-Eastern Europe it 
