458 Habits of the Heron. 



count of a heron having been shot near Caermarthen, in 

 Wales, with a ring around one leg, having the inscription, 

 " Major Wilson, Didlington Hall, Norfolk, 1822." [The 

 Bury and Norwich Post, March 11. 1835.) 



" The herons [of the common species] are abundant here 

 in groups of from twelve to thirty. They seldom quit the 

 same marshes except to roost. I observe that they feed on 

 the large marsh ditch muscle, the individuals of which have 

 been, from the dry season, much exposed. — TV, H. Hill. 

 Southminster Vicarage, Essex, Feb. 12. 1835. [The same 

 correspondent has noticed, in a communication in VI. 452., 

 " Of the heron I have counted twenty-three standing toge- 

 ther in the marshes." The place of date is the same as 

 above. 



In VI. 515. is a notice of two fishing acts of the heron ; 

 and in V. 57, 58. is an extract from the British Naturalist, 

 by Mudie, which includes information by this author on the 

 heron's mode of fishing. In II. 206. a correspondent has 

 noted that, " many years ago, an opinion was held among the 

 fishermen of this neighbourhood [Bridgewater, Somersetshire], 

 that the feet and legs of the common heron had something in 

 them very attractive to fishes, and particularly to eels." He 

 has there noted, too, that " most, if not all, birds of the 

 ^4'rdea genus, but especially the common heron, have on their 

 breasts a considerable space void of feathers, the place of 

 which is supplied by a well-defined dense tuft of down, to which 

 is adherent a peculiar farinaceous substance, clammy and unc- 

 tuous to the touch." Both these notices are in connexion 

 with some remarks offered by our correspondent in the spirit 

 of philosophical enquiry. A common heron, kept for some 

 months in a garden, would, when disturbed, disgorge the 

 contents of its stomach. {J. G., in VII. 513.) One cap- 

 tured, carried in the arms, made a somewhat vigorous un- 

 expected peck at the face of the person carrying it. (J. D., 

 VII. 514.) Herons, of the common species, may be bought, in 

 Leadenhall and Newgate markets, at about 2s. each. (G. Fran- 

 cis, in VIII. 401.) We suppose dead ones, for stuffing. In 

 VI. 387, 388., VII. 98, 99., are remarks, which incidentally 

 supply some slight information on the ornithologic classifi- 

 cation of the herons, and the kindred of these. It is shown 

 in VII. 406, from Dr. Turton, that an allusion of Shakspeare's, 

 which has been supposed to relate to the heron, relates to a 

 very different object, an inanimate one.] 



