246 DOMESTICATED TROUT. 



and with their long necks reach the incautious trout 

 in their hiding-places underneath. Herons have very- 

 capacious throats, a passion for fish, and a rapid diges- 

 tion. They are consequently very much to be dreaded. 

 They do their mischief evenings and mornings, but 

 mostly in the early morning ; and as they are not 

 very wary birds, you can usually shoot them, if you get 

 up early enough. They are waders, also, and, having 

 very long feet, they are easily caught alive, by setting 

 traps in the mud where their foot-tracks have been 

 discovered. I once caught a large blue heron so, with 

 five two-year-old trout in his throat. If you get one 

 alive, and are at all incredulous about their trout- 

 destroying capacity, keep him till he is hungry, and 

 then give him a panful of live minnows to eat. He 

 will soon show what herons can do in stowing away 

 fish, and will remove, I think, all scepticism from your 

 mind henceforth about the destructiveness of herons 

 among trout. The kingfishers are easily shot. They 

 generally come early in the morning, or about three 

 hours before sundown ; but, if not molested, they will 

 stay around all day, and increase in numbers very fast. 

 Approach them with a gun, if you can. If you are not 

 able to get within gunshot, lie in wait for them near 

 one of their favorite perches about the ponds, and 

 they will usually soon come within gunshot of their 

 own accord. You can also trap them, by erecting a 

 tall pole over the pond, and, setting a steel trap or 

 bird-trap on the top of it ; it will not be long before 

 the kingfisher will alight on the pole to watch for his 

 prey, and will be caught. The same trick answers for 



