212 Tlie Heron. 



more than six or eight yards wide at the entrance, 

 and running up to a point. Of these tliere ai'e four 

 or five — recesses in the massive walls of green. 



These corners are caused by the mound following 

 the curiously winding course of a brook which flows 

 just without on the left side ; and without, on the 

 right side, runs a second brook, whose direction is 

 much straighter and current slower. These two meet 

 at the top of the mead, and then, forming a junction, 

 make a deep, swift stream, flowing beside a series of 

 water meadows — broad, level, and open, like a plain 

 — which are irrigated from it. The mounds in the 

 angle where the brooks join enclose a large space 

 planted with osiers, and inside the hedges all round 

 the mead there is a wide, deep ditch, always full of 

 slowly moving water : so that the field is really sur- 

 rounded by a double moat ; and in one corner, iu 

 addition, there is a pond hidden b}- maple thickets 

 from within, and intended for the use of cattle in 

 the adjoining field. The nearest house is several 

 meadows distant, and no footpath passes near, so 

 that the spot is peculiarly quiet. These mounds, 

 hedges, osier-bed, and brooks occupy- an area nearly 

 or quite equal to the space where cattle can feed. 



Upon the fir tree a heron perches frequently in the 

 da3'time, because from that great elevation he can 

 command an extensive view and feels secure against 

 attack. Whenever he visits the water meadows, 

 sailing thither from the shallow lake (one of whose 

 creeks approaches the ash copse) , he almost alwa3's 

 rests here before descending to the field to take a 

 good look round. The heron is a most suspicious 

 bird : when he alights in the water meadows here he 



