34 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



as are the droppings on the Hmbs beneath. As indicative 

 of the height of these nests, it will be noticed that the 

 photograph is taken looking right over the top of the 

 wood on to the country beyond. 



There were already four youngsters in this nest, but 

 one by one my three reached it and climbed in, and though 

 there was a little scrimmaging at each fresh arrival, they 

 quieted down, and soon all seven were contentedly sitting 

 in the nest. I was very curious to see what the old Heron 

 would do when on her return she found this increase in 

 her family, but after reaching the hiding-screen I had 

 long to wait. Towards evening there was tremendous 

 excitement through the colony, the young in all the nests 

 standing up craning their necks as an old bird flew low 

 over the wood with a rat in her bill. Her home was 

 but a few trees away, and I was able through binoculars 

 to watch the struggles of the youngsters as they tried 

 either to swallow or tear the rat in pieces. Often two had 

 hold together, tugging against each other, but they could 

 make no impression on it, and their mother, seeing it 

 was more than they could manage, took it in her bill 

 and to the chagrin of her family flew off. While this 

 had been in progress the seven in the neighbouring nest 

 had been almost beside themselves with envy, and though 

 they could all find room when peaceful, now, in the 

 excitement, one or other was constantly being pushed 

 out, only to regain his place after a desperate struggle. 

 When thus striving to climb back they freely used the 

 bill as a supplementary hand, and without its aid could 

 never have got back. Not only did they seize the branches 

 with it, helping to pull themselves up thereby, but 

 derived their chief aid by hooking it over a branch and 

 with the purchase thus obtained managed to wriggle 

 up. 



My solitary young one also shared in the general 

 excitement, craning his neck to watch the fate of the rat 

 (Plate 25). 



