238 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



scene and they lose no time in gobbling up sundry pieces 

 of bread which have been left on the shingly shore of 

 the pool by some boating party. Then a jolly little pied 

 wagtail puts in an appearance and with flirting tail he 

 trips daintily along the footboards of the weir searching 

 every nook and corner for flies and other winged insects, 

 which form his staple food. 



With a great to-do the wild duck leave their banquet 

 of wheaten bread and flight down stream; and the 

 wagtail taking their cue flits away to the open fields 

 bordering the Surrey side of the river. The heron remains 

 with us a little longer, then he having captured his 

 complement of fish, sails homeward and is soon lost to 

 view behind the giant trees of Petersham Park. 



It is time that we " reeled in " and put shoreward 

 also, for the wind grows chill and the sinking of the 

 great red sun beneath yonder clump of tall elms proclaims 

 the advent of night. 



