22 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



pocket Dollond ; nor shall I be persuaded to dis- 

 pense with its services nntil I become endowed 

 with such a telescopic vision as is attributed to 

 the bushmen of Southern Africa. It is true that 

 I had but little scope for its use at this moment 

 — the nests and their occupants being situated 

 among the thick branches of the evergreen firs — 

 but by its aid I could perceive that the heron 

 which had attracted my attention was a very old 

 bird, as indicated by the long crest and the 

 pure white plumage of the breast and neck, with 

 which the rows of jet black spots on the sides 

 of the latter contrasted beautifully. 



Being anxious to examine the young birds, I 

 selected one of the spruce firs, on the summit of 

 which was a heron's nest, and which appeared 

 to command a view over many other lower trees 

 immediately adjoining, and similarly occupied. 

 The only danger — if such it could be called — 

 was that of losino^ a firm footino^ on the brittle 

 branches near the nest, nor can I say that I 

 experienced a pleasing sensation when the tall 

 and narrow stem, already well loaded with the 

 enormous, wide-spreading fabric at the top, began 

 to sway to and fro from my additional weight, as I 

 endeavoured, by walldng out on one of the boughs 

 immediately underneath, to outflank it so fixr as 

 to enable me to reach the edge, and while sup- 



