ROUND ABOUT A SPRING. 



55 



subsist almost exclusively upon frogs and fish, 

 while the latter are content with anything not 

 absolutely indigestible. 



How vividly I can recall my astonishment 

 when stooping once to drink from a bubbling 

 spring at the base of the river bluff a dark 

 shadow passed over me, and I sprang with such 

 a sudden motion to my feet that I lost my bal- 

 ance ! A great blue heron, unheeding my pres- 

 ence or ignoring it, was slowly settling down to 

 the very spot where I stood, and had I remained 

 quiet it would have perched upon me, I believe. 

 As it was, it gave an impatient flirt to its whole 

 body, showing annoyance and not fear, and flew 

 slowly down the river. Before I had wholly re- 

 gained my composure and had time to step aside, 

 the huge bird returned, and at once took its 

 stand in the shallow water, as silent, motionless, 

 erect as a sentinel is supposed to be. This was 

 many years ago, and I have seldom failed to see 

 them, sometimes many together, winter after 

 winter since. The moody bittern, on the other 

 hand, is much more disposed to migrate in au- 

 tumn ; but at least a single one is likely to be 

 found on sheltered hillsides, particularly where 

 there are springs with marshy areas surrounding 

 them. I have learned this recently of these birds, 

 and either have overlooked them in years past, 

 or it is a new departure for them. It is not un- 

 5 



