224 MYSTERIES OF THE MARSH 



likely, had heretofore eluded our sight, I 

 know not. I know only that from that day 

 I saw him frequently with one and sometimes 

 two companions. 



Then I easily recognized the marsh mys- 

 tery as the great blue heron. He was en- 

 gaged in the business which absorbs so much 

 of the time of all of us getting food. He 

 stalked majestically about on the edge of the 

 little pools, or in water up to his knees, at 

 every step lifting his foot entirely above the 

 water, in the most deliberate manner. Some- 

 times he stood an hour at a time in the pa- 

 tient heron way, when his long neck and slim 

 head looked like a mere stick among the 

 weeds, and again he plunged suddenly after 

 some lively prey perhaps a frog or an eel 

 almost turning a somersault in his eager- 

 ness. Then, after violently beating his catch, 

 whatever it was, shaking his head, which 

 flashed gleams like polished silver up to my 

 distant window, and swallowing it at last, 

 instantly resuming his stately appearance of 

 perfect repose. 



It was interesting to see the heron alight 

 and fold over his enormous wings. First he 



