TWO HERONS 8B 
first began to leave the rookery for their fishing 
grounds. Some went toward the north, others to 
the south, east or west; each bird no doubt having 
clearly in mind some favorite shore, perhaps a dozen 
miles away, where he before had had good luck 
a-fishing; and of all the varied phases of rookery life 
the thought of this regular nightly expedition of 
hundreds of winged fishers, is to me the most at- 
tractive. 
Our largest Heron as well as our largest bird is 
the Great Blue. “Crane” he is popularly called; 
but, aside from other differences, the bird’s habit of 
folding its neck back on its shoulders, when on the 
wing, will distinguish it from true Cranes, who fly 
with neck extended to the utmost. 
The Great Blue Heron is not edible, but its size 
makes it a desirable prize to most gunners and it is 
considered an especially fit mark for a rifle. The 
temptation is strong to condemn as an outlaw the 
man who kills one of these noble birds for what he 
terms sport, or perhaps for the purpose of what he 
would call having it “set up.” He, however, is act- 
ing according to his light, which is quite as bright 
as that which shines for most of his neighbors. The 
Heron is exceedingly wild, and its capture is elo- 
quent evidence of the hunter’s prowess, while his 
desire to have its stuffed skin adorn his home is, 
from his point of view, positively commendable. 
That the bird is infinitely more valuable alive than 
dead, that its presence adds an element to the land- 
scape more pleasing to some than could be imparted 
by any work of man, and that in depriving others 
