Herons. 321 



hard the}' sometimes lined the lee-shore to which 

 the}" had drifted. 



The herons are at the same time the largest and 

 most regular visitors to the mere out of which the 

 brook flows. One or more may generally be found 

 there at some time of the da^^ all the 3-ear round ; but 

 there is a remarkable diminution in their numbers 

 during the nesting season. The nearest heronry must 

 be about thirty miles distant, which probably explains 

 their absence at that time. It also happens that just 

 before the summer begins the mere is usuall}- at its 

 greatest height ; the water is deep almost ever3'where, 

 and there are fewer places where the herons could 

 fish with success. 



They fl}^ at a great height in the air, and a single 

 stroke of the huge wings seems to propel the bird a 

 long distance ; so that though at first sight they ap- 

 pear to move very slowly, the eye being deceived by 

 the slow stroke of the wings, they reall}' go at a good 

 pace. They do not seem to have any regular hours 

 of visiting the lake — though more seem to arrive in 

 the afternoon — but they have distinct lines of flight 

 along which they may be expected to come. In 

 winter, however, ih.Qj show more regularity, going 

 down from the lake to the water-meadows in the 

 evening, and returning in the early morning — that is, 

 supposing the lake to be open and free from ice. If 

 the shores are frozen a heron or two may be found in 

 the water-meadows all day. 



In the autumn, after a dry summer, is the best 

 time to watch them. The water is then low ; numer- 

 ous small islands appear, and long narrow sandbanks 

 run out fifty or sixt}' yards with shoals on either side. 



