Birds. 5793 



witnessed anything of the kind I gladly availed myself of this oppor- 

 tunity, but must confess to having been disappointed, although my 

 anticipations of deriving amusement from the scene were by no means 

 great. We were up with the lark, having a long distance to go before 

 we could expect to find swampy or suitable ground, the paddy-fields 

 at that season being in a dry and uncultivated state. Besides there 

 was much time lost in useless parade, as is invariably the case in the 

 East when there is anything to be done, either good, bad or indifferent! 

 Several herons were, however, eventually discovered, reposing in their 

 usual listless and sluggish attitude, with their heads buried between 

 their shoulders, for the moment quite unconscious of the presence of 

 their deadly foe, but who was no sooner observed than the scene was 

 changed in an instant. Even the gray paddy-bird seemed suddenly, 

 as if by magic, transformed into a beautiful white egret (although not 

 blanched through fear, in the twinkling of an eye, as the locks of the 

 doomed French queen were said to be). This may appear somewhat 

 wonderful, but the fact is that when seen in a state of repose, as above 

 described, they appear, even at a short distance, of a dark gray colour, 

 the outer wing-coverts, as well as quills, being dusky, with more or less 

 of that colour on the back ; but, when their large wings are expanded, 

 the whole of the sides and body, which are of a pure white, are ex- 

 posed, which accounts for the metamorphosis alluded to. The herons 

 were not only wide awake, but to be seen scudding in all directions, 

 exerting their utmost powers of wing in vain endeavours to effect their 

 escape, for the hawks generally proved too quick for them ; however, 

 their chief aim seemed to be the gaining of a considerable elevation, — 

 that of the falcon to prevent it, which it generally succeeded in, and, 

 having got the ascendant, it was all up with the poor paddy -bird, and 

 down it would come like a stone, often without waiting the attack or 

 having a feather injured, and there it lay cowering and crouching till 

 the hawk thought proper to give it the coup de grace. So ended the 

 day's sport, which resulted in the slaughter of some half-dozen 

 wretched herons, to say nothing of those we may have left more dead 

 than alive through their fright. The loss on our side was one hawk 

 missing, notwithstanding the strenuous endeavours of the falconer to 

 win back the fugitive by a free use of the lure. 



Mino. Very common all over the country, and, like the starling, 



frequents the pasture-lands where cattle are feeding : although not 



an elegant bird, its glossy black plumage is very beautiful, and the 



slight yellow line or patch on the cheek is at all times remarkable. 



XV. 3 M 



