Frank the Heron 
ringed plovers, flitting in tiny flocks 
just above the surface of the water, the 
curlews in long strings, and the herons 
one by one, slowly flapping their way on 
their big curved wings, and their long 
green legs stretched out behind. On 
alighting, these long legs are dropped, 
and the bird descends slowly ; and then 
the broad wings, having done their work, 
are folded up. But before beginning to 
feed, Master Frank has to satisfy him- 
self that all is right, and that there is 
nobody hiding about with a gun, or any 
other danger which is likely to come 
that way. For some minutes he stands 
quite still and motionless, with his long 
neck outstretched, while he carefully 
looks around in every direction. Then 
he slowly stalks off, but not to feed—oh 
no! He looks, it is true, quite satisfied ; 
172 
