THE COMMON HERON 153 



it is rather increasing than decreasing in numbers. 

 The young birds are peculiarly ugly, and have 

 a rather mad-looking hairy down covering on their 

 heads, which is retained till they have become 

 almost fully fledged. When I have been watching 

 Herons standing, patiently waiting by the hour 

 together, for fish to come within striking distance, 

 I have often wondered if there was any truth in 

 the old homely legend of their legs having some 

 potent fascination by reason of an exuded oil 

 wiiich the fish love, that tempts them to come 

 swimming round and round till they approach too 

 near and are adroitly caught. Anyhow this is 

 certain, it does not walk after them ; they come 

 to it. Having chosen its spot, it remains there 

 as quiet as a mouse, and with the true fisherman's 

 patience bides its time. It is a curious sight 

 to see the way in which it perches on a branch. 

 It drops its long, thin legs and seizes it with its 

 extended toes, but always seems to find it hard 

 to get its balance, and as the branch sways with 

 its weight it bends its body this way and that, 

 all the time keeping its wings expanded as if 

 trying to get just the right balance, and you realise 

 then that it is no true "perching bird." It lends 

 its picturesque form to Egyptian scenery, just 



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