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THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 295 



domain, and may be seen standing on one leg through 

 the greater portion of the day, steady and impassible as 

 if carved in wood. In order to suit the habits of these 

 birds a channel has been cut on the side of a slight hill, 

 which directs the waters of a little spring into the lake, 

 and along this rivulet the herons love to stand. 



To wander in the precincts of this domain seems a 

 return to the primitive ages of the world, when man, 

 beast, and bird had no dread of each other, and moved 

 peacefully in the same happy grounds. The shyest 

 birds are so well aware of their security that they care 

 no more for spectators than the London sparrows for 

 passengers, and will almost suffer themselves to be 

 touched before they take the trouble to fly away for a 

 few yards. 



No sooner does the owner show himself than there 

 is a general rush in his direction, and great is the 

 flapping of wings and welcome of eager voices. Birds 

 crowd round him on all sides to snatch the expected 

 morsel from his hand ; and I have seen him walk up to 

 a bull that was sleepily reposing, coolly sit on his ribs, 

 and feed the great beast with bread out of his pocket. 



All the birds that inhabit this spot are perfectly free 

 to come and go as they like, but the feeling of absolute 

 safety is so great an attraction that no precautions are 

 needed to keep them within the walls. Even the mal- 

 lards — those shy and wary birds, that test all the 

 sportsman's craft to approach — come in great flocks to 

 the lake. They swim in large companies on its smooth 



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