GRALLATORES. 163 



field, apparently resting themselves and digesting 

 their morning meal. 



At this time they are very difficult to approach, as 

 they keep at a distance from all cover which can 

 conceal an enemy. At daybreak, however, I have 

 more than once come suddenly upon a Heron while 

 busily employed under the steep bank of a brook, 

 and have thus been able to knock him down 

 with snipe-shot before he could get out of range. 

 It was ludicrous to observe the surprise of the 

 bird when he first became aware of my pre- 

 sence, and, with a hoarse croak, clumsily endea- 

 voured to get away. Under similar circumstances, 

 a friend once got within ten yards of a Heron, 

 which was either so surprised or frightened at his 

 appearance that, instead of attempting to fly, it 

 crouched down in the water, and he was compelled 

 to throw a stone at it before it would rise. I once 

 witnessed the same thing with regard to a Snipe. 



The Heron is one of the earliest birds to breed, 

 and generally lays in March. It is one of the few 

 waders which resort to trees for the purpose of 

 nidification. I climbed to a nest in one of the 

 heronries above mentioned, on the 5th April, and 

 brought down four eggs, which were considerably 

 incubated. The nest was situated upon the top of 

 an elm, composed of large twigs, principally elm 

 and willow, and lined with smaller twigs, fibre, and 

 dry grass. 



