64 



Bird - Lore 



and an astonished retreat to shore, to be repeated over and over again 

 for the next few minutes. 



These birds are good company and most welcome to roost in the folded 

 window awnings these winter nights; they usually get ready to retire for the 

 night about half an hour before sunset, and creep in and out of the canvas 

 like Wrens. One can tell when they are nearly ready to go to bed, as 

 they come in large numbers to drink before settling down for the night. 



There came to the water last spring, for a while, a female with only one 

 leg; it was in excellent plumage and flesh, but had difficulty in getting down 

 to the water, though the surface was but little below the pan edge, its one 

 leg being insufficient to steadily and surely lower and raise its body. We 

 felt that an acquaintance was gone when, after a few calls, it returned no 

 more. The writer's desk is within three feet of the water-dish; the birds 

 drink fearlessly while they are being watched, and the charm of close 

 acquaintance enhances the opportunity of studying every detail of color, 

 hang of wing, attitude of legs and tail in alighting, hopping and drink- 

 ing. And, too, the many different notes of alarm, companionship, encour- 

 agement, notes of discovery and anger are given clarity of identification 

 by the closeness of observation; in fact, nothing can surpass the complete- 

 ness of this way of learning bird character. They are often so close 

 that one is reminded by their tiny, glistening black eyes, of Shakes- 

 peare's keen powers of observation when he makes Imogen say: 



" But if there be yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity 

 As a Wren's eye." (Cymb. IV-2) 



YOUNG GREEN HERONS 



