A MEETING 75 



note, but another, very much like that of dovecot 

 pigeons, when they make a few quick little turns 

 from one side to another, moving the feet dancingly, 

 but keeping almost in the same place : a brisk, 

 satisfied sound, not the pompous rolling coo of a 

 serious proposal, nor yet that more tender-meaning 

 note, with which the male broods on the nest, 

 caressed by the female. But the representative of 

 this last, in the wood-pigeon — the familiar spring 

 and summer sound — is now frequently heard, and 

 seems getting towards perfection. So, at last, it is 

 day, and the loud, bold clarion of the pheasant is 

 like the rising sun. 



The above is a general picture of herons in a 

 heronry. It is almost more interesting to watch 

 two lonely-sitting birds, upon each of whom, in 

 turn, one can concentrate the attention. They 

 sit so long and so silently, such hours go by, during 

 which nothing happens, and one can only just see 

 the yellow, spear-like beak of the sitting bird point- 

 ing upwards amidst the sticks. Only under such 

 circumstances can one really hug oneself in that 

 ecstacy of patience which, almost as much as what 

 one actually sees, is the true joy of watching. But 

 at length comes that for which one has been wait- 

 ing, and may wait and wait, day after day, and yet, 

 perhaps, not see — the change upon the nest. It 

 comes — " Go not, happy day." There is a loud 

 croak or two in the air, then a welcoming scream, 

 and in answer to it, as her mate flies in, the sitting 

 bird raises herself on the nest, and stretching her 

 long neck straight up — perpendicularly almost, and 

 with the head and beak all in one line with it — 

 pours out a wonderful jubilee of exultant sounds. 



