THE HERON: A SLOW FLYER 73 

 but opportunities do occur. As a matter of 

 fact, they occur frequently in the experience 

 of anglers. When a heron, suddenly surprised, 

 flies from the bed of a stream, what does the 

 angler note ? After the first awkward rise in 

 which the bird nearly overbalances in its 

 efforts to get clear of the bushes, the wings 

 assume their normal action — a steady up-and- 

 down flap-flapping — ^and though no " scoop- 

 ing " can be detected, the bird gathers way 

 and is soon out of range. 



Though they serve perfectly for this par- 

 ticular bird's requirements, the wings of the 

 heron are cumbersome and obviously ill- 

 adapted to eccentric movements such as 

 "scooping" must entail. Therefore it seems 

 unlikely that any such action exists ; at all 

 events, it is not apparent. 



Among slow-flying birds may be included 

 the rook, lapwing (green plover) and gulls. 

 The flight of the black-headed gull can be 

 investigated at close range when these birds 

 are being fed with bread, which, by the way, 

 they catch very deftly. 



The black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) 

 appears a much larger bird than it really is, 

 which is due to a dense coating of light body- 

 feathers and large expanse of wing. Though 

 the body is Ught the wings are strong and 



