RED-LETTER DAYS AMONG BIRDS 



67 



water, decided that it was impossible for them to reach it success- 

 fully. Thereupon two of the wary creatures tugged at a child's 

 doll that happened to be near by ; they dragged it towards the 

 pan, and then, one by one, mounted the doll, and thus quenched 

 their thirst more easily. Was this a case of instinct or reason ? 



FIG. 30. HERON. 



Young Long-eared Owls are an engaging sight when several 

 of them are discovered out of the nest perched in a row upon 

 the branch of a tree (Fig. 29). One of these birds that came 

 to grief by falling out of its nest in a tall Poplar tree, was reared 

 by a lady friend of mine who matrons a Bird hospital for the 

 halt, blind, and maimed. The young Owl, after careful nursing, 

 recovered from its fall, and, because of its wisdom, was duly 

 christened " Solomon."' 



When sailing down Breydon Water in Norfolk I have, of an 

 evening, counted as many as fifty Herons standing knee-deep in 

 the ooze, watching intently for any likely prey. At times, so 

 sphinx-like are these birds, that one can hardly decide whether 

 they are guide posts, or living, things. With us in Hertfordshire 

 the Heron is a comparatively uncommon species, and, so far as 

 I know, it has only nested on one solitary occasion within recent 

 years. 



