CHAPTER NINETEEN WILD GEESE 



feat of gymnastics on the very topmost twig of a larcl:i-tree, 

 where he swings about in an unsteady manner, quite un- 

 becoming so sage-looking a bird. Occasionally a thievish 

 jackdaw dashes out from the cliffs opposite the heronry 

 and flies straight into some unguarded nest, seizes one of 

 the large green eggs, and flies back to his own side of the 

 river, the rightful owner of the eggs pursuing the active 

 little robber with loud cries & the most awkward attempts 

 at catching him. 



The heron is a noble and picturesque looking bird, as 

 she sails quietly through the air with outstretched wings 

 and slow flisfht; but nothin? is more ridiculous and undior- 

 nified than her appearance as she vainly chases the jack- 

 daw or hooded crow who is carrying off her egg, and dart- 

 ing rapidly round the angles and corners of the rocks. Now 

 and then every heron raises its head and looks on the alert 

 as the peregrine falcon, with rapid and direct flight, passes 

 their crowded dominion; but intent on his own nest, built 

 on the rock some little way farther on, the hawk takes no 

 notice of his long-leggedneighbours, who soon settle down 

 again into their attitudes of rest. The kestrel-hawk fre- 

 quents the same part of the river, and lives in amity with 

 the wood-pigeons that breed in every cluster of ivy which 

 clings to the rocks. Even that bold and fearless enemy of 

 all the pigeon race, the sparrowhawk, frequently has her 

 nest within a few yards of the wood-pigeon, and you see 

 these birds(atall other seasons such deadly enemies) pass- 

 ing each other in their way to and fro from their respective 

 nests in perfect peace and amity. It has seemed to me that 

 the sparrowhawk and wood-pigeon during the breeding- 

 259 



