74 BIRD LIFE IN A WESTERN VALLEY 



for possession of the fish. Much splashing and 

 scolding and many topsy-turvy falls lent variety 

 to the proceedings. Carried away by excitement, 

 the youngsters were unconsciously becoming 

 accustomed to immersion, and were learning 

 to use their beaks and wings with increasing 

 strength and dexterity. 



When yet again I came and watched the king- 

 fishers' family, the lessons had so far advanced 

 that the young birds would enter the deep water, 

 without the slightest fear, from the oak-bough, 

 and had fully recognised the importance of 

 remaining motionless on their perch, instead of 

 begging food from their parents, till the shoal of 

 minnows, its numbers sadly diminished, rose 

 from the depths of the quiet pool to play about 

 the rock. 



II. The Heron 



The heron, like the kingfisher, escapes observa- 

 tion with a skill to be estimated only by the 

 patient naturalist who has succeeded, but much 

 more often failed, in his attempts to stalk the 

 gaunt, motionless bird as it stood in some quiet 

 little bay at the bend of the stream. I remember 

 how once, when I had discovered a heron fishing 

 in the glen, and had almost crept down to him 

 beside a thickset hedge, a moor-hen, noisily 

 splattering out from a ditch, gave instant alarm, 

 and sent him away, as hastily as his great, 



