was within an inch or two of the surface*' Then with a quick 
movement the open bill was thrust in to the water and the fish 
literally picked out precisely as a hen would pick up a kernel of 
corn and almost instantly swallowed although sometimes the bird 
would first turn it over or roll it around a few times.’ Frequent- 
ly several fishes were seized in quick succession before any of 
them were swallowed. The forward movement of the head and neck 
sas singularly cat-like and stealthy* sometimes the fish 
passed out of range when the bird would raise its head and watch 
its retreating course with an expression of ludicrous disgust& 
disappointment. These Herons were crack marksmen and rarely 
missed their aim. The fish that they captured while under my 
observation were all small fry or minnows less than two inches 
in length with one exception viz-* that of a white perch at least 
six inches long. I did not see the latter caught the bird when 
it first attracted my attention, being engaged in trying to swaliww 
its prize a task which apparently gave it much trouble.- Holding 
the fish high above the ground it turned it over and over in its 
bill till at length it got it head downward when by a succession 
of gulps it got it all out of sight except the tail which pro¬ 
truded from the side of the mouth. The birds neck was so dis¬ 
tended as to appear of nearly double the usual thickness and it 
appeared unable to shorten it and resume the usual Heron attitude.- 
Its companions stood around regarding it with evident envy and 
more than one tried to rob it of its prize before the latter was 
swallowed . ; The captor, however, looked Ill at ease and lincomforfc- 
- - - ^ 
able and made frequent and futile attempts to get the fish 
