THE COMMON HERON. 



179 



the habits of the Heron been given than that by Mr. Harting, in his '-'Hints on Shore 

 Shooting." 



" On most parts of the coast the Heron may be seen at low water, fishing in the little pools 

 which have been left by the receding tide. Here he finds crabs, shrimps, and other delicacies ; 

 but instead of being sociable, like the Gulls and Redshanks, and inviting a friend to join him 



GREAT "WHITE HERON. 



at dinner, he goes to his own particular pool, like an old gourmand to his club, and keeps the best 

 of everything to himself. 



" We have watched him on the rocky weed-covered shore of Northumberland, on the shining sands 

 of Lancashire, and on the dreary mud-flats of the Sussex harbours, and have found him always 

 the same ; shy and suspicious, even when seldom disturbed, he seems to have a wonderful eye to 

 danger, and we almost believe can distinguish a gun from, a stick or an umbrella. 



" Now and then, upon a rocky coast, we have stalked him under cover of a friendly boulder, and 

 while our heart beat loud with rapid exertion and excitement, we have shot him just as he had 

 detected our head above the rock. And what a triumph we have felt in standing over his prostrate 

 form, and smoothing his expansive wings, feeling in that moment a sufficient reward for having 



