THE HOME LIFE OF THE HERON 119 



But if the Herons are to be seen at really close quarters it is perhaps waste 

 of time to spy at them from this distance and elevation, and we may as well 

 proceed without further delay with the business of climbing to the observation 

 post, and with this end in view we step into the open from our overhead cover. 

 Immediately the whole wood is in an uproar ! Herons ' fraanking ' with 

 resentment, flop from their nests above, whilst some, bolder than the others, 

 wait still as stone upon the edge of their nests before joining the dark soaring 

 forms gathering in the air above the trees. 



Glancing up at the nest with the four large young ones we notice that it 

 now seems to be empty, and we wonder whether they too have attempted to 

 follow their older relations into the sky ! 



The tree — an oak^ — is somewhat difficult of ascension, for it lacks any 

 helping branches for the first 20 feet or so, and for this distance one has 

 to work one's way up in much the same manner as one climbs a rope in the 

 gymnasium. 



At last the observation post is reached, and before creeping into its interior, 

 we notice, as we cast a glance at the nearest Heron's nest, that the four young 

 ones which we had thought might have taken flight, are crouching on the 

 floor of it. 



Inside the observation post is a more or less horizontal branch, which 

 serves as a seat, and after the exertion of climbing the tree, one sinks on to it 

 with feelings of deep thankfulness for its timely presence. 



It is a mistake, however, to be too optimistic under such conditions, for 

 we may be sure that long before even an hour has passed, the seat will become 

 painfully uncomfortable, and we can only hope that, when a change of position 

 becomes essential, our movements will not frighten any of the old Herons, 

 which may, by that time, have returned to their nests. 



Peeping through a little spy-hole, which has already been prepared, we 

 notice that the four young Herons are still crouching — so absolutely motionless 

 are they that one has to gaze at them for quite a considerable time before 

 being able to make out which sleek head belongs to which body ; or to decide 

 exactly how many staring yellow eyes there are among the compact mass. 



For thirty or forty minutes they remain thus inert, and one begins to 

 wonder if they will ever come back to life. Then without any warning, one of 

 them, hoping no doubt that the danger has at length passed, raises himself on 

 to his kneeS' — or elbows — and turning his head half-sideways, fixes his gaze 

 upon a large semi-digested fish, probably weighing over 2 lb., which one of 

 the other members of the family had disgorged at the approach of seeming 

 danger. 



Anxious, no doubt, not to lose such a golden opportunity, he hesitates no 

 longer : his head shoots forward, and he seizes the tempting morsel with the 

 tip of his beak. The process of swallowing it seems to cause him considerable 



