198 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



by day, but decidedly averse to such murderous midnight attacks. 

 They are extremely watchful birds, and at all times an annoyance 

 to the wild-fowler, frequently giving alarm long- before any other 

 birds which may be near them have detected the smallest signs of 

 suspicion.* 



They are also great enemies to the decoyer ; and sometimes when 

 he has just commenced his artifices upon a paddhng of wild ducks, 

 some suspicious heron, which may be near the pipe of the decoy, 

 often causes every bird to leave the water, by stretching its long neck 

 and giving a sonorous warning — "frank !" as it rises from the water's 

 edge, spreading its huge wings, and alarming every bird within the 

 pond. And it is the same whether pursuing the sport of wild-fowl 

 catching at the decoy, or shooting on the open waters and oozes with 

 punt and gun ; whenever the warning note of the heron is heard, up 

 go the heads of all the wild-fowl near about him, and they are thus 

 made acquainted of the enemy's approach. The lives of many 

 hundreds of wild-fowl have been saved by this keen detective of the 

 waters. When standing erect, what with its long legs, long neck, 

 and tapering body, the heron can see the approach of the enemy at a 

 considerable distance ; and when wild-fowl are feeding near this bird, 

 they always appear to rely on it for a signal in case of danger. The 

 curlew also frequently enacts a similar part when feeding with other 

 birds. 



When once a heron has found food at any particular place, it is 

 almost certain to return to it again, and probably nearly every day, 

 if undisturbed. The quietest way of getting rid of the nuisance at 

 the decoy is, to bait a large fish-hook with a small hve roach or eel, 

 and place it at the water's edge, near the feeding-place of the heron, 

 securing the hook by means of a strong line to a stake or branch. 



" There o'er the shallow water's bed 

 His baited hooks at eve he sj^read. 

 * * * * 



And e'en the hei-on's crested pride 

 By the frail slender line is ta'en."t 



The heron will greedily swallow the bait, and thus become an easy 

 capture to the decoyman. But the hook must be baited with a live 

 fish : the heron will not touch a dead one. Giles Jacob also gives 



* " The herrous gaif ayne vyild skreech as the kyl lied bene in fyir, guhilk gart 

 the quhapis [curlews] for fleyitnes [fright] fle far fra hame." — The Convplaynt of 

 Scotland: A.D. 1548. 



f " Annals of Sporting." » 



