a /IDar6b=*lant) Ifnct^ent 



While I was looking the bird suddenly 

 quit eating, crouched in a frightened way, 

 then skulked into the tall growth of the 

 tussock. After half an hour had elapsed, 

 and while I was writing in my note-book, 

 it reappeared and stood with its neck 

 stretched almost perpendicularly to its 

 full length. I watched it for a long time 

 before it moved in the slightest, then it re- 

 sumed its feeding. It was uneasy, however, 

 and I noticed that it frequently gazed up- 

 ward as if half expecting some calamity from 

 on high. I looked to the sky for a sign of 

 danger, for I thought that a hawk might 

 be circling overhead ; but all was clear. 



A few minutes later the heron suddenly 

 flattened itself upon the mud, its wings 

 slightly spread, its neck drawn close to its 

 body, and at the same time a peculiar 

 noise, a low, whizzing roar, fell from 

 above. I glanced up, and at first saw 

 nothing; but the sound rapidly increased, 

 and then I caught sight of a large hawk 

 rushing almost vertically down. It was 

 still very high ; its wings were almost 

 close shut, and its velocity was doubling 

 155 



