190 BIRDS OF NOKPOLK. 



and on the marshes their cunnuig and quickness, on 

 foot, tries the patience alike of man and beast. Again, 

 pulling onwards, the channel suddenly opens upon a 

 wide expanse of water, also bordered with reed-beds 

 and low tussucky marshes, and from the very edge of a 

 small island directly before us rises a noble heron. 

 Slowly flapping his great wings as he launches himself 

 into the air, and sails away with outstretched legs, he 

 utters a hoarse cry of warning to others, and involun- 

 tarily, almost, one calls to mind Hood's graphic lines — 



" The coot was swimming in the reedy pond, 

 Beside the water-hen so soon affrighted ; 

 And in the weedy moat the heron, fond 

 Of solitude alighted. 



The moping heron, motionless and stiff. 

 That on a stone, as silently and stilly. 

 Stood, an apparent sentinel, as if 

 To guard the water lily." 



Here, under the lee of these tall rushes, let us moor 

 the boat for awhile and enjoy the beauties of this quiet 

 scene. The sun in all its noon-day splendour would be 

 scarcely bearable at such an hour, but for the cool re- 

 freshing breeze, which, with a continuous soughing 

 sound, murmurs amongst the reeds and sedges, rippling 

 the sluggish waters with its breath, and curling the 

 broad leaves upon their glistening surface. Strangely 

 somniferous is that seolian music, like the hum of bees 

 upon a shady bank ; but readily as one could yield to its 

 soothing influences, we have come to use our eyes and not 

 to close them. See where those stately swans are snorting 

 deflance at our abrupt intrusion ; the female is gathering 

 her fleet of cygnets, and the male, with head drawn 

 back between his snowy wings, drives himself towards 

 us with his " oary feet." Scarcely less white too, in their 

 spotless beauty, the cups of the water-lily (Nymjphcea 

 alba) rest on their leaves, and here and there the yellow 



