THE HERON. 61 



" Lo ! there the hermit of the water, 



The ghost of ages dim, 

 The fisher of the solitudes, 

 Stands by the river's brim." 



His white forehead, his spotted neck, and long feathers at 

 the back of the head ; his pointed beak, so well adapted 

 for its purpose ; his blue, ash-grey plumage, with white 

 under-parts and short tail ; his long, greenish-yellow legs, 

 enabling him to wade pretty deep in the water ; and mark 

 how cautiously he steps, scarcely moving the water as he 

 lifts one leg in advance. 



Compare his movements on the sea-shore when the tide 



THE HERON. 



is out with those of his associates around him, the curlews, 

 the oyster-catchers, gulls, and stints ; how busy they all 

 are running about in every direction searching for their 

 food, whilst this " solitary sentinel of the shore " stands 

 erect, not deigning to notice them, but quietly waiting for 

 some wandering fish or eel to come within reach of the 

 unerring dart of his powerful beak. 



No doubt in the breeding season the heron takes a 

 goodly number of small fry, and even fish of a considerable 

 size ; but he is very partial to frogs and other inhabitants 



