Methoprocta (cont.) almost ignored. On one occasion when a plane walked rapidly directly at one of a courting pair, the bird took off (without screeches), flew about 12ft up in the air and landed 10 yds away. Obviously not greatly alarmed. The shepherd that we today approached this morning came back at 4pm and said he had found a nest with eggs, but no mother seen. Went with him and saw nest under robust, spreading grass clump of the coarse grass species. About half-way up a hill along a runlet. 6 eggs which felt warm. Nest rather substantial, many feathers, sheltered from above by the grass (see sketch). Went back at 5 but no bird seen. Feb 27 Bird on nest at 6 a.m. At 8am heard calling at 1km. Alone camp. Although calling was close to me, could not locate it. At first every 9 seconds then slowly decreased to every 6 seconds. Did locate, however, a pair courting down the hill rather rapidly toward the sound on the flat, "J" in front, "Q" about 5-10 yds behind. "J" was making a quiet chip every few seconds. Calling stopped when they reached the flat and the "J" returned to the "Q". Some pursuit, a few instances of posturing by Q. Twice they were lost to view, once for a couple of seconds behind a grass clump during which there was a trifling flurry of activity of some sort. Shortly after, they had lost interest in courtships and for no apparent reason "froze" for about 5 yds apart for 15 minutes. Then left them. In the afternoon 2 J's came down to the flat by the burn at different times, fed for a half hour, then went back up the hill. One of them called most of the time and joined another up the hill.