2i8 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



unending petty grievance, whereas these birds seldom 

 disagree, and the distribution of available fishing seems 

 to be organized with a view to all sharing alike. 

 Each individual has its favourite stance, to which it 

 resorts punctually at certain times of the day or night. 

 One heron used to pass over my house regularly just as 

 the sun dipped behind the range, and evening after 

 evening one might see this bird take up his position at the 

 head of a rapid stretch always within a few feet of the 

 same point. For an hour or so he would remain there, 

 then one would hear his note as he rose, passing down the 

 river for some other favourite station. Another heron I 

 knew to alight punctually every morning at a shady 

 corner of a sand-bottomed pond, and at about midday 

 this same bird would perch on the topmost pinnacle of 

 a high fir tree growing near — looking immensely tall and 

 ungainly as he stood out against the sky, his neck and 

 body almost vertical. Having thus surveyed the world 

 awhile he would fly off, and leaving the main river proceed 

 up a small burn, at a certain rocky corner of which he 

 would take up his second position. 



Again, when visiting some friends at Kew, I noticed a 

 heron take up his stance near the bridge every morning 

 punctual to the minute. 



The herons seem to respect each other's rights, for it 

 is to be noticed that the same individuals are to be seen 

 day after day at the same places. Other herons do not 

 generally trespass there during the absence of the rightful 

 owner. The birds vary considerably in size and colour, 

 and coming to know them one learns to recognize indivi- 

 duals. I have often noticed that minnows and the like 

 are fond of congregating round any conspicuous object 

 in the water, such as the broken fragment of some coloured 

 vessel, or a white stick standing up from the bed, and 

 no doubt the legs of the waiting heron attract them in 



