BIRDS OF THE MOOR. 233 



come instantly from as many startled throats. The noise 

 spreads on all sides, like ripples on the water at the plash 

 of a stone, till it dies away in the distance. In the even- 

 ing and morning particularly, the Eails seem perfectly 

 reckless, and their jovial if unmusical notes resound till 

 the very reeds seem to quake. Dr. Coues compares them 

 to the French claqueurs. Unobtrusive, unrecognized ex- 

 cept by a few, almost unknown to the uninitiated, the 

 birds steadily and faithfully fulfil their allotted parts; 

 like claqueurs they fill the pit, ready at a sign to applaud 

 anything that may be going on in the drama of life before 

 them. 



THE HERON. 



No family of birds is possessed of more of those 

 qualities w^hich are especially regarded as picturesque 

 than the Herons. This family comprehends a great many 

 species, distinguished by their remarkable appearance 

 both when flying aloft and when wading in their native 

 swamps. They are generally seen in flocks, passing the 

 day in sluggish inactivity, but called forth to action by 

 hunger in the evening when they take their food. It is 

 at the hour just after twilight that their peculiar cries 

 are heard far aloft as they pass from their secluded day- 

 haunts to their nocturnal feeding-places. Their flight 

 deserves attention from their slow and solemn motion on 

 the wing. Their flying attitude, however, is uncouth, 

 with the neck bent backwards, their head resting against 

 their shoulders, and their long legs stretched out behind 

 them in the most awkward manner. 



THE BITTERN. 



Among the Heron family we discover a few birds which, 

 though not very well known, have ways that are singular 



