202 Wild Life in Wales 



tropical, or sub-tropical birds, or withdraw southwards in 

 winter ; while our bird remains in its chosen haunts till 

 absolutely frozen out, and then, for the most part, only 

 seeks the coast to await there the departure of the ice from 

 the inland streams. No degree of cold seems to chill a 

 Heron's feet, for he will stand by the hour together in the 

 most icy water, waiting with the patience of a Stoic for his 

 prey to come to him. Patience is, indeed, the sole talent 

 upon which he relies for his daily bread, for he utterly 

 disdains the plebeian chase. Taking up a position in a 

 likely spot, he waits, and, if prey comes not, simply goes 

 on waiting. The approach of a victim is -signalled by a 

 slight movement as his lance is laid in rest ; when near 

 enough, a lightning stroke, with aim that seldom miscarries, 

 is followed by a dexterous toss of the fish in the air, so that 

 it may be held and swallowed head-foremost, a straightening 

 of the long neck as the fish slips down it, a self-satisfied 

 shake of the feathers, and, till his hunger is appeased, the 

 watcher is ready to resume his vigil. When the resources 

 of one pool are deemed to have been exhausted, he will 

 proceed to another ; but long study has given him a 

 wonderful perception of the ways of fish, and if a shoal is 

 in the neighbourhood, he knows much better than to move. 



Amongst other food, a Heron readily. swallows any newts 

 that come in its way, and it is one of the best natural checks 

 we have on the increase of the eel. Near Aberystwith, I 

 one day saw a Heron alight for a moment on the sea, a 

 quarter of a mile or so from land, and rise from the water 

 again without any apparent difficulty. It was near one of 

 those curious little heaps of gulls, and divers, which so often 

 collect over the spot where a shoal of herring-sile, or white- 

 bait, has been discovered at the surface, and the sight of the 

 fish was no doubt more than the ever-hungry Heron could 

 withstand. It made only a single attempt to strike a fish, 

 while sitting upon the water, whether successful or not, the 

 distance was too great to distinguish ; and then, perhaps 

 liking not the noisy company it had got into, rose, and with 

 a loud frank) resumed its journey to the rocks. 



A belief, common to many parts of England, and frequently 



