THE COMMON HERON. 29 



was allowed to pass in order that incubation might advance 

 and to give the Heron time to get quite familiar with our 

 apparatus. Then, on the 28th, we made the first attempt 

 at portraiture. 



The birds were very agitated, flying slowly round and 

 round at a great height above the wood, like Rooks "turning 

 the wheel." The shutter set, the dark shde inserted, 

 and the lengthy pneumatic release all coupled up, I was 

 soon on the ground again, creeping into the bramble 

 thicket. Even while so doing some of the Herons 

 alighted on or near their nests, and there seemed little 

 doubt from her actions that my bird ere long would do 

 the same. But it was not to be ; morning turned to 

 afternoon, and her only advances had been to flap leisurely 

 by at intervals, and when six hours had slowly passed 

 without her return it was thought advisable to remove 

 the camera and withdraw lest the eggs should be rendered 

 lifeless through too long exposure. 



During the day my brother had been watching the 

 movements of the old birds, presumably the cocks, which 

 were off duty. These passed the time dozing in the centre 

 of a large flat field. One or two appeared alert and on 

 guard, while the rest, standing close together, slept and 

 basked in the sun. It seems odd that these birds should 

 leave the safety of the trees and come to take their 

 siesta on the ground, where, but for the vigil of the 

 sentries, a fox might seize them. Can it, I wonder, be 

 a trace of former terrestrial habits ? 



To the superstitious April ist was hardly a propitious 

 day on which to attempt the portrayal of so shy a bird, 

 but as events proved the Fates were kind. This time, 

 thinking that it might be our movements about and in 

 the tree which caused the birds so much alarm, we got 

 everything possible ready before entering the wood, 

 completing the adjustments in the tree with the utmost 

 despatch. 



Nor were we disappointed. Within half an hour of 



