324 UNFOKTUNATE END. [CHAP. vr. 



in a couple of Bantam eggs to keep up the appearance. 

 The hen continued to sit, being occasionally relieved by 

 the cock when feeding. Unfortunately she had one 

 day waded (or swum, for to some distance the water 

 was too deep for wading) to the exposed margin of the 

 loch, near the high road, and was there killed by some 

 boys ; and my expectations of breeding a Heron were 

 thus frustrated. The cock continued to sit till the 

 afternoon of the next day, when he seemed to tire of 

 the duties of incubation, and finally abandoned the 

 nest. The solitary bird lived for a number of years, 

 going perfectly at large, except during severe snow- 

 storms, when he readily submitted to confinement in 

 an outhouse. Having crossed the loch in 1838, he 

 unluckily fell in with some lads unacquainted with his- 

 habits, and shared the fate of his mate." 



