COMMON HERON 13 
Like its congeners, this bird will stand as motionless as a 
statue for a considerable time, observing the movements of 
creatures which may venture within striking-range of its 
formidable beak. I have watched a Heron visit a winding 
mountain-rivulet regularly for a few successive evenings, 
and have timed it to stand motionless for fifteen min- 
utes before striking at a small trout. I have seen it 
strike several times in very rapid succession, before raising 
its head to swallow its prey. From this it seems evident 
that the Heron may strike with the point of its closed beak, 
as a man would use a pick-axe, thereby first disabling its 
quarry by breaking its back. Its long, powerful, and wedge- 
shaped beak, is admirably constructed for this purpose. 
Fic. 2.—COMMON HERONS. 
The movements of a Heron may often be successfully 
watched from the ambush afforded by the tall reeds 
which fringe the banks of a winding river. Probably 
the bird will alight at a bend of the river out of sight of 
the observer, who is then afforded an opportunity of advane- 
ing stealthily among the reeds. ‘The unsuspecting bird may 
walk by the water’s ‘edge i in a direction towards the observer, 
perhaps appearing suddenly within a few yards of him. 
In this way I have managed to approach Herons and 
study their habits, for many hours at a stretch, along the 
