ALONG THE HILLSBOROUGH. 73 



spread his wings, as a matter of course, and 

 fly over. First he put up his head an 

 operation that makes another bird of him 

 and looked in all directions. How could he 

 tell what enemy might be lying in wait? 

 And having alighted on the other side (his 

 manner of alighting is one of his prettiest 

 characteristics), he did not at once draw in 

 his neck till his bill protruded on a level 

 with his body, and resume his labors, but 

 first he looked once more all about him. It 

 was a good habit to do that, anyhow, and 

 he meant to run no risks. If " the race 

 of birds was created out of innocent, light- 

 minded men, whose thoughts were directed 

 toward heaven," according to the word of 

 Plato, then Ardea herodias must long ago 

 have fallen from grace. I imagine his state 

 of mind to be always like that of our pil- 

 grim fathers in times of Indian massacres. 

 When they went after the cows or to hoe the 

 corn, they took their guns with them, and 

 turned no corner without a sharp lookout 

 against ambush. No doubt such a condi- 

 tion of affairs has this advantage, that it 

 makes ennui impossible. There is always 

 something to live for, if it be only to avoid 

 getting killed. 



