300 Poachers and Poaching. 



heron breeds both early and late, and has often 

 three or four broods in a season. At this time 

 they are rarely seen fishing in the bay, and seem 

 to prefer round fish upon which to feed their 

 young, probably on account of the narrowness of 

 gape and swallow. To obtain the requisite food 

 the herons move off at evening to the quiet tarns 

 and streams which abound in trout and eels. 

 As the young birds come to maturity they are 

 driven from the nest, and in a few days a new 

 clutch of eggs is laid. The incubation of these 

 is performed by both parents, one sitting during 

 the day the other at night. As soon as 

 young herons are able to look about them they 

 have a habit of standing erect in the nest, and, 

 not being very stable, are not unfrequently 

 blown to the ground. If no harm befalls them, 

 they are here fed by the old birds, though they 

 never attempt to regain their lofty nests. Every- 

 where beneath the heronry there is an ancient 

 and fish-like smell ; and this by the warm days 

 of summer becomes almost unbearable. 



When nesting operations are over, they leave 

 their summer haunt among the tall trees and 

 make down to the bay and low-lying marshes. 

 At this season the birds are gregarious, and 

 their daily movements afford material for pleasant 

 study. If the fishing ground in the channel is 

 fruitful, sport goes on harmoniously ; but if 

 otherwise, chase is given to the successful fishers 



