314 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



rat. The mouse is then jerked upwards, and caught again 

 head downwards. A second jerk sends the mouse half down 

 the owl's throat, while its tail remains sticking out of the 

 side of its bill, where it is rolled about as if the owl were 

 smoking. After some time has been spent in this amusement, 

 another jerk causes the mouse to disappear altogether, and 

 the owl looks very happy and contented. But if a small 

 bird is presented to it, the owl tears it up and devours it 

 piecemeal." The great Eagle Owl which measures two feet 

 and upwards will attack hares, rabbits, and young fawns. 

 ORDER VIII. The order of wading birds includes many 



"Wading Birds, that we can do no more than mention : the 

 Moor Hen; the Woodcock; the Snipe; the Water pheasant; 

 the Plover; the Lapwing; the Crane; the Heron; the Stork; 

 and the Flamingo are the more familiar birds of the order, 

 which however includes the Crakes ; the Coots ; the Curlews ; 

 the Bustards; the Sandpipers, and others. 



The Cranes. The Cranes belong to Africa and Southern Asia, 

 but migrate from clime to clime as the seasons change. The 

 flight of the Cranes, like that of some other birds, is a compact 

 and well ordered progression. They fly high and commonly 

 at night, apparently under the direction of a leader whose 

 course they follow and whose calls they obey. There are 

 several varieties, the Common Crane, the Numidian Crane, 

 and the Balearic Crane being the better known of these. 



The Heron. The Heron is an expert fisherman and has 

 all the accessary patience for the pursuit of his sport. He 

 will stand motionless for hours at the water side, waiting his 

 opportunity, and then dart with unerring aim at the unsuspect- 

 ing fish and secure his meal. The bill of the heron is a 

 powerful weapon, and as we remarked when dealing with the 

 falcons, formerly used in hunting the heron, it will sometimes 

 transfix the Falcon by throwing its head back and receiving 

 its enemy on the point. Captain Brown gives an illustration 

 which shows that the Heron's bill may be as effective in 



