, for I never saw a bird that
pleased me so much. Well--I followed this little brook till it entered
the river, and then took the path that runs along the bank. On the
opposite side, I observed several little birds running along the shore,
and making a piping noise. They were brown and white, and about as big
as a snipe.

Mr. A. I suppose they were sandpipers, one of the numerous family of
birds that get their living by wading among the shallows, and picking up
worms and insects.

W. There were a great many swallows, too, sporting upon the surface of
the water, that entertained me with their motions. Sometimes they dashed
into the stream; sometimes they pursued one another so quickly that the
eye could scarcely follow them. In one place, where a high, steep
sand-bank rose directly above the river, I observed many of them go in
and out of holes, with which the bank was bored full.

Mr. A. Those were sand-martins, the smallest of our species of swallows.
They are of a mouse-color above, and white beneath. They make their
nests and bring up their young in these holes, which run a great depth,
and by their situation are secure from all plunderers.

W. A little further, I saw a man in a boat, who was catching eels in an
odd way. He had a long pole with broad iron prongs at the end, just like
Neptune's trident, only there were five, instead of three. This he
pushed straight down among the mud, in the deepest parts of the river,
and fetched up the eels sticking between the prongs.

Mr. A. I have seen this method. It is called spearing of eels.

W. While I was looking at him, a heron came flying over my head, with
his large, flagging wings. He alighted at the next turn of the river,
and I crept softly behind the bank to watch his motions. He had waded
into the water as far as his long legs would carry him, and was standing
with his neck drawn in, looking intently on the stream. Presently, he
darted his long bill, as quick as lightning, into the water, and drew
out a fish, which he swallowed. I saw him catch another in the same
manner. He then took alarm at some noise I made, and flew away slowly to
a wood at some distance, where he settled.

Mr. A. Probably his nest was there, for herons build upon the loftiest
trees they can find, and sometimes in society together, like rooks.
Formerly, when these birds were valued for the amusement of hawking,
many gentlemen had their _heronries_, and a few are still remaining.

W. I