THE HERON. 269 



experiment was perfectly successful, and the bird, 

 finding it impossible to disgorge, at length abandoned 

 the attempt, and subsequently fed himself. Fish 

 were placed for him in a fountain on the lawn, and 

 he evinced great delight in taking them from the 

 water. One day a rat was observed helping him- 

 self to the Heron's food. The rightful owner caught 

 him in the act, and with one blow of his formidable 

 bill felled him to the ground. Seizing him, then, 

 before he could recover himself, he carried him 

 squeaking to the fountain and ducked him. After 

 shaking him well under water, he held him up for 

 examination. The rat spluttered and squeaked in 

 abject terror, and again was he submerged. The 

 dose was repeated, until the unfortunate rat at length 

 succumbed, and being by this time nice and tender, 

 the Heron pouched him, and his then elongated 

 form was seen distending the thin skin of the bird's 

 neck in its passage downwards, until it finally dis- 

 appeared altogether. 



