52 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



traders are about, walks to the water's edge. A row 

 of low reeds fringes the lake, and between these and 

 the shore there is a strip of shallow water, the ground 

 being trodden into slimy mud by cattle which 

 come to drink. Into this water the heron wades, 

 stalking slowly along, raising his long neck, and 

 peering into the deeper water beyond the reeds. 



If one wishes to see stalking brought to a fine art 

 it is necessary to watch a heron. His legs are in the 

 water to the depth of about eight inches, yet he walks 

 on without leaving the slightest trace of a ripple. 

 One leg is raised very slowly, and gradually, by a 

 circular movement, is brought out of the water, and 

 then as slowly dipped into it again, the bird some- 

 times taking a minute to progress one step. He sees 

 something beyond the reeds, and rather than hurry, 

 he risks losing the fish or whatever it may be. 



The long beak is raised gradually higher and 

 higher, and the bird leans forward, and we see one 

 leg moving if we watch closely, for the movement 

 is hardly perceptible. Now the leg is raised and 

 pushed silently among the reeds, and by a slow, 

 forward motion the heron is nearer to his prey. 



Swish ! The beak is plunged in and the bird 

 seems to fall forward into the water, but the next 

 second turns and walks quickly out with a small 

 wriggling eel in his beak. This is rapidly swallowed, 

 and after rubbing his beak on the grass he walks 



