PADDY-BIRDS AND EGRETS 



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paddy-bird, alias the pond heron, alias 

 the blind heron, alias Aideola grayii^ is one of 

 the few animals that really understand the 

 art of loafing. Unlike the majority of the 

 feathered tribe, he makes no pretence of being busy. 

 He does nothing all day, and does not try to hush up 

 the fact. Nor does he endeavour to delude himself into 

 believing that the day is not long enough for the work 

 he has to get through. The paddy-bird lives chiefly on 

 frogs. 



I do not know the extent of the appetite of a pond 

 heron, never having had to cater for one. Nevertheless, 

 were I given the contract to feed a number of them, 

 I would not allow more than three frogs per head per 

 diem. If any bird clamoured for more, I would promptly 

 set him down as a glutton, and make him mortify the 

 flesh by fasting once a week. 



Now, to a professional fisherman, the capture of three 

 frogs per day is not an Herculean task, yet this con- 

 stitutes the average daily labour of a paddy-bird ; it is 

 not sufficient to debar the bird from belonging to a 

 trade union. I am of opinion that every pond heron, 

 when about to die, might say with truth, " I have never 



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