AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 301 



On several occasions in the past I have had the opportunity of watch- 

 ing them for a long time through a field glass, although I must confess 

 that it was at a time when they were on the opposite side of a long, 

 narrow pond and that, while I watched them with great interest, it was 

 with an intense longing that they should come over to my side of the 

 pond within range of my gun. How daintily they raised each foot and 

 how carefully they allowed it to settle in the water, with no splash or 

 ripple to warn their finny prey as they changed their location. Then 

 how still and rigid they would keep with their eyes literally glued upon 

 the shallow water in front of them, their neck doubled in graceful curves 

 and their whole attitude one of tense expectancy. Soon a small fish 

 makes its way within the bird's radius of attack. As if worked by pow- 

 erful springs, the long neck suddenly straightens and the head shoots 

 downward, the long sharp bill cleaving the water like an arrow and 

 being instantly withdrawn with a struggling fish between the madibles. 

 The next operation is to turn the fish about so that it may be swallowed 

 head first, this being accomplished with curious contortions, the swell- 

 ing of the throat marking the progress of the fish the whole length of 

 the heron's neck. 



They are usually very shy birds and difficult to approach but some- 

 times, when standing among tall rushes, one will try to escape obser- 

 vation rather than fly; the legs are stiff, the body perfectly erect and 

 the long neck stretched to its fullest extent with the bill pointing toward 

 the zenith, an attitude in which at a casual glance they will readily pass 

 for one of the surrounding stalks. They will maintain this seemingly 

 uncomfortable position for minutes at a time until danger is past or 

 until they are satisfied that they are discovered, when with a dis- 

 gusted grunt they will spread their six feet of wing and slowly flap 

 away. It has been the custom of gunners to kill these and all other 

 herons at every opportunity even though they had no possible use for 

 them, until they have become quite uncommon in New England. Fort- 

 unately they are now protected at all seasons of the year so that pro- 

 bably they will hold their own, although undoubtedly many will con- 

 tinue to be killed by ignorant hunters. While, it is argued, they are of 

 no economic value reckoned in dollars and cents, they are a very beauti- 

 ful and welcome sight to those who are so fortunate as to be able to 

 see them and as such, deserve our fullest protection as do all other 

 species which do no positive harm and even if their good is not appar- 

 ent to everyone. 



