22 AT A HERONRY NEAR LONDON 
of their number hanging dead upon a tree 
into which he had fallen, just below a heron’s 
nest, or perhaps the bird had tried to rob a 
nest of eggs, or was interfering with the young 
(many of which were now hatched), and 
received a fatal peck from that dangerous 
weapon the heron’s beak, and doubtless one 
peck was ‘enough. (see. Part 1, ps 71) We 
left the punt at the bank in the shadow of the 
numerous trees, and had not gone far when 
we saw a fledgling heron about eighteen inches 
tall on the ground right under a nest. Its 
wing was broken, probably in falling out of 
the nest, and it was a pitiful sight to see the 
poor bird trying to get away from us, and 
toppling over at each step. Its legs seemed 
too long for it. Near by were the remains 
of several younger birds, in each case imme- 
diately under a nest. In these spots were 
also many droppings, and several shells of 
large eggs about two inches long, very conspicu- 
ous as they lay there by their size, and especi- . 
ally by their pretty sea-green colour which 
contrasted sharply with the surrounding 
