In Defence of Desolation. 183 



watch the bared areas of mud, now that it is low 

 tide, we will surely see the common sora, or rail, 

 and not improbably the Virginia rail. Occasion- 

 ally the latter remains all winter, and the sora is 

 often forced to do so because of slight gun-shot 

 wounds that prevent migration ; but such birds 

 do not, I think, survive the winter. Many are 

 caught by the hawks, and some fall victims to the 

 sly snapping-turtle and to pike, before the gen- 

 eral freeze-up ; others succumb to intense cold. 

 What I have warrant to expect seeing, before 

 the day is done, is the great blue heron ; and to 

 start up the delicate least bittern is not improb- 

 able. The heron is not shy, and too big, one 

 might think, to conceal itself, yet it can stand 

 motionless among sticks and grass, quite invis- 

 ible to any but a well-trained eye. Taking up a 

 new position, as I supposed, I flush a heron from 

 the willow hedge : how the big bird brightens 

 the landscape ! It utters no wild yawp, as if 

 badly frightened, but moves easily at a slight 

 elevation, and would again alight, but some- 

 thing again disturbs it, and now it rises into the 

 upper air by a few rapid and very vigorous 

 wing-strokes. Its long legs no longer are an 



