286 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. IX. 



my camera. The Heron displays no vulgar haste over 

 his meals. He is an aristocrat amongst birds and the 

 incarnation of leisured ease. Yet when he strikes, it is 

 with the rapidity of a SA\ift rapier tlirust. So, although 

 the distance between the spot where the Herons alighted 

 and my tent was short of tAvo hundred yards, it took 

 time to traverse this. I always kept one eye on the 



Fig. i. Y"OUNG HERONS SfUDYlNO THE PHOTOGRAPHER. 

 [Photographed by Miss E. L. Turner.) 



lordly bird, and the other on less dignified feeders. If 

 I happened to photograph anything passing my tent 

 when the Heron Mas half-A\ay along, he A\ould pause for 

 a moment, then slowly retrace his steps. When at a 

 safe distance he would stand motionless, erect, and 

 vigilant, and by and by advance again. With luck, 

 and by refraining from photographing anything else, I 

 could secure one photograph of the Heron a day. 



When taking Aving. Herons are a long time getting 

 nnder Avay : long enough to enable Ihc ])liotographer 



