AN ARCADIAN CALENDAR 



though they can feed themselves if they choose, as has 

 been observed on Romney Marsh dykes in May, when 

 young ones, with undeveloped quills, are found spearing 

 eels. Farmers then esteem them good eating, and say 

 that their brown flesh is like a hare's. 



HERONS, pressed for food, are so voracious that if one 

 sails away with something wriggling in its 

 The Heron bill several others may give chase, rending 

 Amuses the air with frenzied cries of jealousy. But 

 Itself at times the heron seems to fish for sport, 



and amuses itself by playing pitch-and-toss 

 with frog or water vole, possibly having fared royally. 

 So, when eel-fishing, a large eel will be tossed and 

 twisted about for some moments before being bolted 

 head-first, and it may be released at the last moment, 

 as if to be given a chance of affording future sport. Even 

 the melancholy herons may have a sense of humour. 



THE moorhen family that may have lived harmoniously 

 on one small pond through the Winter now 

 Greenlegs breaks up; the old male claims the pond, 

 and with strident challenge turns on his 

 offspring. They can fly better than one would suppose 

 from the clumsy way they leave the water to escape his 

 wrath, steadying themselves by carrying their long 

 legs stretched out like a rudder. They are born fighters, 

 and lively duels take place between two young males 

 over some olive-brown enchanter, who has flirted at 

 them approvingly with her white tail-patch, and taken 

 their fancy by the gay red garters of her green legs. 



