CUTHBERT ROOKERY 



145 



Louisiana 

 Herons 



above and, they build so near 

 the tops of the trees, it is 

 generally impossible to get a 

 suitable point of vantage for 

 concealment at their level. I 

 arranged my blind, however, 

 in what appeared to be the 

 best place, and left the rook- 

 ery for the camp which our 

 men had made back of the 

 mangroves, amid the palms, 



ferns, and orchid-hung trees 

 on the nearest mainland, dis- 

 tant a quarter of a mile. My 

 first act now, was to erect a 

 bar, in preparation for the 

 horde of mosquitoes which 

 are usually the most serious 

 problem in life here, but, be 

 it said to the credit of this 

 insect, not ten were seen 

 during our stay. 



" Perched 

 on the mangroves 

 silent and alert " 



