246 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



rapidity. Then follows a waving of broad wings, 

 also most extraordinary movements, as of some 

 creature possessed. It is a heron that has speared 

 a fair-sized eel one, in fact, a size too large for 

 him. The fish objects to being swallowed whole, 

 as only eels can and do object ; that is the cause 

 of the bird's capers. With raised crest, and the 

 feathers of his breast pluffed out, he goes for the 

 fish that is squirming and wriggling about on the 

 mud, digs at him, picks him up, tries to swallow 

 him ; but without success, for the eel will not have 

 it. Then, changing his tactics, the heron picks 

 him up once more and thrashes the mud with the 

 fish right and left. This has apparently a bene- 

 ficial effect, for he soon joints the eel up and eats 

 him. So closely at times, as I have observed be- 

 fore, under certain aspects of light, does the heron's 

 plumage fall in with his surroundings, that if he 

 would let you, he could be walked up to without 

 being seen. Before leaving him, I would remind 

 my readers that it is never wise to take any heron 

 up, to look at him, before you are quite sure that 

 he is dead. These birds take a lot of killing, and 

 when one seems really gone, even then you will 



