GREAT BLUE HERON 75 



Nov. 1, 1855. As I pushed up the river past Hil- 

 dreth's, I saw the blue heron (probably of last Monday) 

 arise from the shore and disappear with heavily-flapping 

 wings around a bend in front; the greatest of the bit- 

 terns ( Ardece), with heavily-undulating wings, low over 

 the water, seen against the woods, just disappearing 

 round a bend in front ; with a great slate-colored ex- 

 panse of wing, suited to the shadows of the stream, a 

 tempered blue as of the sky and dark water commingled. 

 This is the aspect under which the Musketaquid 1 might 

 be represented at this season : a long, smooth lake, re- 

 flecting the bare willows and button-bushes, the stubble, 

 and the wool-grass on its tussock, a muskrat-cabin or 

 two conspicuous on its margin amid the unsightly tops 

 of pontederia, and a bittern disappearing on undulating 

 wing around a bend. 



April 26, 1856. A blue heron sails away from a pine 

 at Holden Swamp shore and alights on the meadow 

 above. Again he flies, and alights on the hard Conantum 

 side, where at length I detect him standing far away 

 stake-like (his body concealed), eying me and depending 

 on his stronger vision. 



Aug. 16, 1858. A blue heron, with its great undulat- 

 ing wings, prominent cutwater, and leisurely flight, goes 

 over southwest, cutting off the bend of the river west of 

 our house. 



Aug. 19, 1858. When I see the first heron, like a 

 dusky blue wave undulating over our meadows again, I 

 think, since I saw them going northward the other day, 

 how many of these forms have been added to the land- 



1 [The Concord River. See note, pp. 80, 81.] 



