118 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



veil of mist, for with luck it might impart the atmosphere of height and mystery, 

 which would seem to be so desirable in such a case. 



Since that day it has fallen to his lot to spend many hoiu-s amongst the 

 Herons' nests, and to have had ample opportunity of observing and photo- 

 graphing not only their sky-blue eggs in varjdng lights, but the birds them- 

 selves, their manner of brooding ; of feeding the young ; a nd of disgorging 

 their food. 



It perhaps goes without saying that, in order to become thus acquainted 

 with such an arboreal family, it is necessary to construct an observation post 

 on the same lines as that which we made when studying the Rook, into 

 which, in due course, the observer may retire, and whence he can watch events 

 without himself being seen. 



The building of the observation post will probably extend over a period 

 of weeks, for the Heron, hke the Rook, is an exceedingly shy bird, and if so 

 huge a structure were to appear too suddenly, the result would probably be 

 that the family under observation would be deserted. 



However, the construction of the observation post has been dealt with 

 more fully in previous chapters, and for the purpose of the moment we will 

 suppose that we have an observation post already prepared at the top of an 

 oak tree, and within a few yards of several Herons' nests ; that it is about 8.30 

 on a July morning ; and that we are on the way to the Heronry. 



The day is sunny and still ; hardly a breath of air stirs among the trees, 

 and the place seems uncannily quiet. 



It is always so towards the end of July. One hears little of the bird voices 

 of early summer, except perhaps the song of the ubiquitous wood-pigeon, who 

 does his best to coo a love song from the hawthorns in the valley. 



Through the dead leaves and undergrowth on the way to the Heronry a 

 little pathway has been cleared, so that it is possible to creep along to the trees 

 in comparative silence, and at least without the upsetting accompaniment of 

 snapping twigs. At a bend in the path a halt is made, for away up through 

 the branches one of the Heron's nests may be seen, and standing upon it, silhou- 

 etted against the sky, four nearly full grown young Herons. What extra- 

 ordinarily beautiful birds they look — even at such a distance. A few yards 

 further on, and still under cover, we are at the foot of a tree, in the topmost 

 branches of which the observation post, well camouflaged with dead branches, 

 looks for all the world like an enormous inverted wren's nest. 



Close by it are two more nests : one containing eggs, and the other half- 

 grown young ones, and by peering through the foliage one can see that an old 

 Heron is on each of them. Only the head and neck of the one with the eggs 

 can be seen, as she is sitting ; but the other is standing on the edge of her nest 

 preening herself. What a magnificent bird ! One feels inclined to stand and 

 watch her indefinitely. 



