ily of birds that get their living by wading among the shallows, and 

 picking up worms and insects. 



W. — There were a great many swallows, too, sporting upon the sur- 

 face of the water, that entertained me with their motions. Some- 

 times they dashed into the stream; sometimes they pursued one an- 

 other so quickly, that the eye could scarcely follow them. In one 

 place, where a high, steep sand bank rose directly above the river, I 

 observed many of them go in and out of holes, -with which the bank 

 was bored full. 



Mr. A. — Those were sand martins, the smallest of our species of 

 swallows. They are of a mouse color above, and white beneath. They 

 make their nests, and bring up their young in these holes, which run 

 a great depth, and by their situation are secure from all plunderers. 



W. — A little further, I saw a man in a boat, who was catching eels 

 in an odd way. He had a long pole, with broad iron prongs at the 

 end, just like Xeptune's trident, only there were five instead of three. 

 This he pushed straight down among the mud, in the deepest parts of 

 the river, and fetched iip the eels sticking between the prongs. 



Mr. A. — I have seen this method. It is called spearing of eels. 



W. — While I was looking at him, a heron came flying over my head, 

 with his large, flapping wings. He alighted at the next turn of the 

 river, and I crept softly behind the hank to watch his motions. He 

 had waded into the water as far as his long legs would carry him, and 

 was standing with his neck dra-\\-n in, looking intently on the stream. 

 Presently he darted his long bill, as quick as lightning, into the 

 water, and drew out a fish, which he swallowed. I saw him catch 

 another in the same manner. He then took alarm at some noise I 

 made, and flew away .'^lowly to a wood at some distance, where he 

 settled. 



j\tr. A. — I'roliably his nest was there, for herons build upon the 

 loftiest trees they can find, and sometimes in society together, like 

 rooks. I'Vjrmci'ly, when these birds were valued for the amusement of 

 hawking, many gentlemen had their lieroivries, and a few are still 

 remaining. 



W. — I think they aie the largest wild birds we have. 



Mr. A. — They are of great length and spi-ead of wing, but their 

 bodies are comparatively small. 



W. — I then turned home\\ard, across the meadows, where I 

 stiqiiied awhile to look at a large flock of starlings, which kept flying 

 about at no great distance. I could not tell at first what to make of 

 them; for they arose altogether from the ground as thick as a swarm of 



