204 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



cawing as they go. Each clanging file is led 

 by some " many-wintered crow," which never 

 deviates from a well-defined route. When the 

 valleys converge and the flocks unite, aerial 

 evolutions are indulged in which show the 

 wonderful wing-power of the bird. Especially 

 is this so flying "down wind." When all 

 are assembled, the snapping of sticks and loud 

 cawing becomes general. These gradually 

 subside ; although far into the night an occa- 

 sional caw comes from the tree tops or a falling 

 twig startles the stillness. 



At Hern wood, too, is a Heronry — an historic 

 one — the once royal game-birds having had 

 possession time out of mind. But since the 

 degeneration of the majestic fisher the number 

 of Herons has decreased. They have not that 

 protection accorded them now that they had as 

 royal quarry — quarry worthy to be flown at by 

 princes. But still, at Hernwood, they find an 

 asylum; and the thirty remaining nests produce 

 annually about one hundred and twenty birds. 

 These, from February till October, haunt the 

 Heronry, betaking themselves for the winter to 

 the mosses and marshes; and some few — like 

 Wordsworth's immortal leech-gatherer — wander 



