THE HERON AND ITS HA UNTS 83 



necessary to him at times, and he quits the marshes 

 for the sea-shore at his own time and pleasure. He 

 finds the pools about the right depth for wading, and 

 altogether convenient ; for, as a rule, they are merely 

 depressions in the slub, a few inches deep. The 

 flounder may scuttle down, leaving only his head 

 and eyes exposed, the head slightly raised, looking 

 more like the head of the cobra than anything else 

 in nature. What curious likenesses we find at times 

 in creatures whose mode of life is so utterly different ! 

 Well hidden as Mr. Flounder thinks himself, it is not 

 enough, for Jack Hern's quick eye has seen him. 

 The bird's neck is drawn back for one moment, and 

 the stroke is made. Far better than any large fork 

 lashed on to a stick is the bill of the heron. The 

 fish may kick and wriggle as only a flounder can, but 

 he will not get away from that grip. This victim is 

 some three inches in width ; watch it in the process 

 of disappearance. The fish is tossed up and caught 

 head foremost, and he gulps him down as far as his 

 neck. That is long and thin, but its power of expan- 

 sion is very great. The passage of the fish can be 

 plainly seen, for the neck becomes fan-shaped where 

 the fish sticks for a moment on its way to the bird's 

 stomach. However, the matter is soon over, as the 

 fish folds in on both sides, and the devourer is ready 



G 2 



