COCOI HERON 99 



its great sickle beak into the weeds at the bottom at 

 every step. When walking on land it observes these 

 motions, and seems incapable of progressing without 

 plunging its beak downwards into imaginary water 

 at every stride* 



The Spoonbill wades up to its knees and advances 

 with beak always immersed, and swaying itself from 

 side to side, so that at each lateral movement of the 

 body the beak describes a great semicircle in the 

 water ; a flock of these birds feeding reminds one 

 of a line of mowers mowing grass. On dry ground 

 the Spoonbill seems unable to walk directly forward 

 like other birds, but stoops, keeping the body in a 

 horizontal position, and, turning from side to side, 

 sweeps the air with its beak, as if still feeding in the 

 water. 



In the foregoing instances (and I could greatly 

 multiply them) in which certain gestures and move- 

 ments accompany progressive motion, it is difficult 

 to see how the structure can be in any way modified 

 by them ; but the preying attitude of the heron, the 

 waiting motionless in perpetual readiness to strike, 

 has doubtless given the neck its peculiar form. 



Two interesting traits of the Heron (and they have 

 a necessary connection) are its tireless watchfulness 

 and its insatiable voracity ; for these characteristics 

 have not, I think, been exaggerated even by the 

 most sensational of ornithologists. 



In birds of other genera repletion is invariably 

 followed by a period of listless inactivity during 

 which no food is taken or required. But the Heron 



