THE COMMON HERON. 



809 



This is an extremely formiJable enemy to the ^fy'l'^'^f'^^^^^^ 

 is, in fresh waters, scarcely a fish, however large, ^^'^^ f ^^ ^^^r^^^ ^ 

 nit strike at and wound, though unable to carry ^?^;>f ; J^^^^^^ 

 smaller fry are his chief subsistence; these, pursued bj be^r jarg^^^^ 

 follows of the deep, are compelled to take ^^^2° "\f ^^^^^^/^^^^^^^^^ 

 where they find ihe Heron a still more fo'-^Vdable enemy. lbs 

 method is to wade as far as he can go into ^be water and there 

 patiently to await the approach of his prey ; ^"^\^^^^N ^^'" -^ 'Tu' 

 within bis sight, he darts his bill with inevitable aim ^J^^^f^l 

 Hays he has seen a Heron that had in his stomach no fewer than 

 seventeen Carp. Some gentlemen who kept tanae Herou^ were 

 desirous of ascertaining what average quantity one ot tHese w j 



