NOTES.
155
pace, he vanishes in the shadows by the shore. Far in among the trees, where the
water is darkened by grey willows hanging over, stands a heron—silent and
motionless. Beyond him is another, and far on another still. Next moment they
are lost again as we pass their narrow entrance. Suddenly, from the shelter of the
sedge, starts out a kingfisher, that like a gleam of light sails down the winding
shore. Now at length, right before us, in a great chestnut that towers above the
lesser crowd of trees, is an outpost of the heronry—a huge nest of sticks, a plat-
form, perhaps six feet across, and on it stands erect a great bird whose long legs
seem out of keeping altogether with the branches of a tree. Now more nests,
four and five together in a single tree, broad and massive structures some of
them, the accumulated piles of generations. We are very near them now and on
one is a tall sentry very plain to see as he stands dreaming on his nest. An old
heron in his nuptial plumage is a gallant bird. But there is barely time to mark
the exquisite tone of grey in his great wings, the long, waving feathers on his
breast, and floating from his head a plume such as graced the helmet-crests of
knights, and that among the garter trappings of investiture still keeps an hon-
oured place. For now there passes near a fleet of wild ducks paddling fast along.
The old mallard in front catches sight of the boat; with loud warning note he
rises on the wing, followed fast by all his train. The drowsy heron high up
among the branches lifts his plumed head with a start, looks round a moment,
then with muttered croak stretches his long snake-like neck, flaps hastily his
mighty wings, dangles his long legs awkwardly below. But as he gets under
weigh, the neck is drawn in, the legs trail easily astern, the broad wings settle
down to a slow and steady flight—a very triumph of the wing."
Notes on Roman and other Antiquities, &c., near Rivenhall and
Feering.—[Lieut.-Col. W. J. Lucas, J.P., of Witham, has lately written to us
concerning antiquities found at Rivenhall, and kindly allows the publication of
the following interesting extracts from his letters.—Ed.]
" I was invited to join your excursion some weeks back from Coggeshall,
and much regretted that I was prevented doing so. I should have been glad of
the opportunity of drawing attention to the site of the church at Rivenhall and
its surroundings. I think it worth consideration as the probable site of an
extensive Roman villa * » * The discovery was first made in 1846 in land-
draining a field on the north and east sides of the churchyard, but no scientific
exploration has ever, that I know of, been attempted. From memoranda made
at the time by the then Rector, the most extensive discovery was that of a
pavement of red tiles supposed to extend some 400 feet in length by 4 feet 6 inches
in width. 1 should doubt, however, as to the length being so great really.
It was not excavated, but struck on at intervals, and so traced at a depth of
twelve or fifteen inches. Several hypocausts are said to have been exhumed,
of one of which I have a drawing showing a round hole at the side, through
which a pipe for hot water probably passed. A coloured vase was found con-
taining the bones of a child. Fragments of a marble tesselated pavement.
Specimens of coloured stucco. Coins—one of which of the Emperor Probus was
in the possession of the late rector ; but I do not know where it now is. Many
others have at different times been found, but have been scattered amongst people,
and could not now be traced. Tesserae and fragments of pottery are thrown
up in digging graves in the churchyard ; but as in the course of years the soil
has been moved repeatedly, nothing of any value is now found within the area.
A few years since, in digging the foundations of a class-room, as an addition to