Uivincj witb a Xafce. 203 



all. In the fields which skirt the water's edge the 

 robins love to forage ; and one day I had the pleasure 

 of assisting, as a spectator, at the first flight of a 

 brood of nestlings over which not only the whole 

 robin family, but half a dozen other bird households 

 watched with noisy solicitude. There is a family of 

 belted kingfishers living down by the mouth of the 

 brook yonder which never fails to protest against our 

 invasions of its premises, in a sharp, rattling note like 

 the drawing of a stick along the fence-paling. Nor 

 do we ever lose an opportunity to beat up the hand- 

 some pair and set them to clattering and plunging from 

 one thicket to another ; for they are beautiful to be- 

 hold and in perfect harmony with their surroundings. 

 One day as we were floating idly near the sedges 

 which grace the mouth of the brook, suddenly there 

 came dropping down from the air the gaunt form of 

 a bird whose long bill and lean breast were matched 

 by the slim legs which he pulled behind him. With 

 much awkward flapping of his wings he settled 

 among the reeds and grasses ; then we knew that we 

 were honoured by the visit of a heron. Breathlessly 

 we awaited his movements, and hoped he would not 

 find our presence objectionable, and that he would 

 deign to trust in our good will. But the diffidence 

 and shyness of his retiring nature could not be over- 

 come by any telepaphy of ours ; and presently he 

 awkwardly shifted still farther into the thicket ; and 

 then seeming to make up his mind that where there 

 were so many inquisitive spectators was no place for 



