266 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



of what we saw on these occasions, but it will 

 suffice if we describe the situation and general 

 appearance of the heronry last named. 



The date of our visit was the 5th of April, and 

 the birds were then sitting on their eggs. The 

 Heron is one of the few waders which resort to a 

 tree for the purpose of nidification, and a stranger 

 sight than a number of these great birds perched 

 at the top of a lofty elm, can scarcely be imagined. 

 Twenty years ago, the Herons at Wanstead Park 

 tenanted some trees at a different spot to that which 

 they now frequent. At present they occupy some 

 tall elms upon an island in the largest piece of water 

 in the park. The keeper informed us that there 

 were about thirty pairs. We proceeded to the boat- 

 house, and after baling out the boat, which was 

 nearly full of water, steered for the Herons' island. 

 A good glass enabled us to see the birds very clearly, 

 and most of them were in splendid plumage. The 

 nests were placed at the very tops of the trees, and 

 many of them were occupied by a sitting bird. 



Here and there a Heron stood erect upon a 

 bough, with head and neck drawn in, looking for all 

 the world like a cold sentinel, with his bayonet be- 



