File:Birds that hunt and are hunted - life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls (1902) (14752920564).jpg

Identifier: cu31924090317748 (find matches)
Title: Birds that hunt and are hunted : life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje, 1865-1918
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York : Doubleday, Page & Co.
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ies. Patience, an easy virtue of the tropics, from whence thegreat blue heron comes, characterizes its habits when we observethem at the north. Standing motionless in shallow water, theSphinx-like bird waits silently, solemnly, hour after hour, forfish, frogs, small reptiles, and large insects to come withinrange; then, striking suddenly with its strong, sharp bill, it snapsup its victim or impales it, gives it a knock or two to kill it ifthe thrust has not been sufficient, tosses it in the air if the preyis a fish, and, in order to avoid the scratching fins, swallowsit head downward. Hunters pretend to excuse their wantonslaughter by saying herons eat too many fish; but possibly thesewere created as much for the herons good as our own, and nothanks are offered for the reptiles and mice they destroy. Wild, shy, solitary, and suspicious birds, it is next to im-possible to approach them, even after one has penetrated to theforbidding retreats where they hide. Near sunset is the hour 162
Text Appearing After Image:
g-REAT BLiUE HE-fiON. B Life-size. Herons and Bitterns they prefer to feed. In Florida one meets herons constantly,fishing boldly on the beach, wading in the lagoons, perching onstumps, and walking with stately tread and slow through thesedges by the river side, their long necks towering above thetallest grasses. The cypress swamps all through the south con-tain herons of every kind; but at the north the sight of this lonefisherman is rare enough to be memorable. Nine times out often he will be standing with his head drawn in to rest betweenhis shoulders, and motionless as a statue. As he generallychooses to fish under the shadow of a tree by the water, oramong the rushes that grow out into the sluggish stream, hisquiet plumage and stillness protect him from all but the sharpesteyes. Disturb him, and with a harsh rasping squawk he spreadshis long wings, flaps them softly and solemnly, and slowly fliesdeeper into the marsh. At close range he looks a comical massof angles; but as he soa

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