A YOUNG HERON. 113 



a large-boned, broad-shouldered, heavy fellow, with no 

 signs of agility about him, yet he steadily persevered, 

 until at length, in spite of crashing ivy and crumbling 

 rock, he descended, and laid a young heron at my feet. 

 The bird was almost fully fledged, and capable of 

 feeding itself, and we determined to carry it home as a 

 pet for some of the ladies, though I may as well add 

 that, after having put us to no slight trouble to supply 

 it daily with small fish, which it would only eat when 

 quite fresh, before a week was gone the pet had taken 

 to itself wings and disappeared. 



