THE CITY OF THE LONGLEGS 191 



ever ready to snap up any unfortunate nestling which 

 might fall from its platform of twigs. 



The feathers of herons are much sought for decorating 

 women's bonnets. Whole colonies of nesting birds are 

 sometimes destroyed for this purpose. It is to be hoped 

 that no plume hunter will find this heronry and for this 

 reason I refrain from mentioning its location. There are 

 many such cities of longlegs in the South, although their 

 number is becoming less each year on account of the on- 

 slaughts of the plume hunter. 



THOUGHT QUESTIONS 



Have you ever seen a crane, heron, or other long-legged bird? If a 

 bird's legs are long is it necessary for its neck to be long also ? Why ? Did 

 you ever see a bird feed its young as the herons do? How do hens feed 

 their little ones? How do sparrows feed their young? Make a list of all 

 the water birds you know. 



