TWO HERONS 85 



first began to leave the rookery for their fishing 

 grounds. Some went toward the north, others to 

 the south, east or west ; each bird no doubt having 

 clearly in mind some favorite shore, perhaps a dozen 

 miles away, where he before had had good luck 

 a-fishing ; and of all the varied phases of rookery life 

 the thought of this regular nightly expedition of 

 hundreds of winged fishers, is to me the most at- 

 tractive. 



Our largest Heron as well as our largest bird is 

 the Great Blue. "Crane" he is popularly called; 

 but, aside from other differences, the bird's habit of 

 folding its neck back on its shoulders, when on the 

 wing, will distinguish it from true Cranes, who fly 

 with neck extended to the utmost. 



The Great Blue Heron is not edible, but its size 

 makes it a desirable prize to most gunners and it is 

 considered an especially fit mark for a rifle. The 

 temptation is strong to condemn as an outlaw the 

 man who kills one of these noble birds for what he 

 terms sport, or perhaps for the purpose of what he 

 would call having it "set up." He, however, is act- 

 ing according to his light, which is quite as bright 

 as that which shines for most of his neighbors. The 

 Heron is exceedingly wild, and its capture is elo- 

 quent evidence of the hunter's prowess, while his 

 desire to have its stuffed skin adorn his home is, 

 from his point of view, positively commendable. 

 That the bird is infinitely more valuable alive than 

 dead, that its presence adds an element to the land- 

 scape more pleasing to some than could be imparted 

 by any work of man, and that in depriving others 



