CHAPTER XXIX 

 ORDER OF HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES 



HERODIONES 



ALL the members of this Order are either sturdy fisher- 

 ■'- ^ folk or longshoremen. They wait not for bud or blos- 

 soms, or ripening grain, but when hunger calls they go 

 a-fishing. Then woe betide the small fish or frog of any size 

 which is tempted to stray into the warm shallows and linger 

 there. 



The neck of the heron is specially formed by Nature for 

 quick lunging. At rest, it folds upon itself, in angular kinks, 

 until the neck totally disappears, and the bird's head seems 

 to rest down upon its shoulders. But alarm this neckless 

 bird, and presto! it is another creature. Up goes the head 

 into the air, borne on a long, flat-sided neck, which curves 

 like a capital S. 



When a heron is fishing, it stalks slowly and silently along 

 the shore, preferably in water about six inches deep, its head 

 carried well forward but about on a level with the top of its 

 shoulders, while its big eyes keenly scrutinize every object 

 in the water. It takes long steps, and plants each foot 

 softly, in true still-hunter fashion, to avoid alarming its game. 

 When a fish is found within range, the kinks of the neck fly 



148 



