150 BIRD-HUNTING 



three miles we saw a large tree in which were per- 

 haps a dozen nests of Ardea cinerea, the Common 

 Grey Heron ! 



At this time of year the low-lying lands are 

 fearfully water-logged. Everywhere the ground is 

 flooded. The fields have from a foot to two feet of 

 water ; the forests are submerged half-way up the 

 trunks of the trees ; the roads — where there are 

 any — are a succession of puddles and morasses, so 

 that working here it is simply impossible to keep 

 dry. On foot you are constantly mid-leg deep in 

 water, and even riding you very soon become wet 

 with the splashing of water and liquid mud. Any- 

 body liable to rheumatism would very soon be 

 crippled after birds'-nesting here. And it is curious 

 what a number of snakes there are in the water ; 

 even the puddles on the road often have three or 

 four snakes swimming about in them, and in the 

 ditches they simply swarm. Most of them are 

 harmless, but on one of these aquatic expeditions I 

 came on a very deadly-looking viper coiled up asleep 

 on the stile between one flooded field and another. 

 The broad, flat head and unmistakable expression 

 left no doubt as to its dangerous character. I nearly 

 got a photograph of it, but while putting in the 

 plate, after focusing at very close quarters, it un- 

 coiled itself and glided away, greatly to the relief 

 of my guide, who was in a great fright. 



