54 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



piece of work that such an artist could possibly turn 

 out. 



Even good artists may spoil their work by drawing 

 birds in what may be artistic, but which certainly are 

 most unnatural, attitudes ; photography, however, is 

 now showing us the correct attitudes of birds and 

 animals in their natural state. 



Now the heron leans forward still more, and 

 suddenly makes a great jump into the lake. What 

 a mighty splash he makes, for as he touches the 

 water the enormous wings are opened, and the bird, 

 with the exception of just the tips of these, is 

 completely submerged. 



He is far out of his depth, yet, with his wings and 

 legs used as paddles, he is quickly on the surface 

 again. What does he care for a ducking, when in 

 his beak is a silvery fish quite eight inches long ? 

 Instead of attempting to wade, he rises from the 

 water and flies to the bank ; then, with a vigorous 

 shake of his feathers, sends the spray in all direc- 

 tions. The fish, making desperate efforts to escape, 

 is first squeezed, or rather crushed, between the 

 powerful mandibles, and afterwards tossed up in the 

 air. It is then caught head foremost, and we notice 

 the snake -like neck swelling as the fish passes 

 down. 



After this exciting adventure the heron goes to 

 the bank and washes his beak, by first shaking it in 



