454 Habits of the Heron. 



blasted top of an ancient oak which grows near the water's 

 edge ; and many and many a time again have I gone that 

 way, on purpose to get a view of it. In the spring of that 

 year, it went away to return no more ; and, about the same 

 period, our last raven was shot on its nest by a neighbouring 

 gentleman. 



In vain I now look for any of these interesting birds in our 

 surrounding woods. They have been declared great de- 

 stroyers of game ; they have, in consequence, suffered per- 

 secution ; and, like the family of poor Charley Stuart (God 

 rest his soul !), they no longer appear on their own native 

 land, in this district, where once they graced our rural 

 scenery. 



The heron, however, notwithstanding this hostile feeling, 

 has managed to survive its less fortunate neighbours. Always 

 on the look-out, it sees in time the threatened danger, and 

 generally contrives to avoid it ; for persecution has rendered 

 it fully as shy and wary as the pie itself. Formerly, in this 

 country, the heron was a protected bird, in order that it might 

 afford pastime to the great; but, nowadays (as little or 

 nothing remains of falconry, except a title which introduces 

 the finger and thumb of the bearer into the public purse), the 

 heron is abandoned to its fate ; and the fishpond owners may 

 waylay it with impunity, whenever an opportunity offers. 



I attribute the bad character which the heron has with us, 

 for destroying fish, more to erroneous ideas, than to any well 

 authenticated proofs that it commits extensive depredations on 

 our store-ponds. Under this impression, which certainly has 

 not hitherto been to my disadvantage, I encourage this poor 

 persecuted wader to come and take shelter here ; and I am 

 glad to see it build its nest in the trees which overhang the 

 water, though carp, and tench, and many other sorts of fish, 

 are there in abundance. Close attention to its habits has con- 

 vinced me that I have not done wrongly. Let us bear in mind 

 that the heron can neither swim nor dive; wherefore the 

 range of its depredations on the finny tribe must necessarily 

 be very circumscribed. In the shallow water only can it 

 surprise the fish ; and, even there, when we see it standing 

 motionless, and suppose it to be intent on striking some de- 

 licious perch or passing tench, it is just as likely that it has 

 waded into the pond to have a better opportunity of trans- 

 fixing a water-rat lurking at the mouth of its hole, or of 

 gobbling down some unfortunate frog which has taken refuge 

 on the rush-grown margin of the pool. The water-rat may 

 appear a large morsel to be swallowed whole ; but so great 

 are the expansive powers of the heron's throat, that it can 



