THE PR0GRESSIVENES8 OF INSTINCT. 61 



27. 



Sharpham, on the River Dart. (See page 23 \ 

 of the Naturalist, No. 1.) . . . i 



28. Heron Court, ^ Hampshire. 



I believe at ouc time a very large Heronry existed liere. 



29. Newport House, . . . . . .' Galway. 



30. Findhorn, Morayshire. 



31. Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. 



32. Craigie, near Kilmarnock, .... Ayrshire. 



Although, having lived in the north of Ireland for some time, we are 

 acquainted with only a single Heronry; perhaps some Irish correspondent will 

 he kind enough to favour us by recording any others that may exist. 



The Heron is not particular as to the trees it selects to construct its habitation 

 in, as we find them in fir, beech, oak, and elm trees. Mr. Wood, of Admiston 

 Hall, near Piddletown, Dorset, some time ago informed me, that, having shot a 

 Snipe, he was walking to pick it up, when a Heron, which he had not 

 previously seen, pounced upon the Snipe, shook it in his bill, like a dog 

 with a rat, evidently not satisfied that it had received its death blow, and 

 was just about to make a mouthful of the said Snipe. When Mr. Wood 

 approached, he dropt it, and flew off, leaving Mr. W.^ in possession of his 

 game. They are particularly fond of the Common Rat, {Mus decumanus,) 

 the Water Vole, {Arvicola ampJdlius, Desmer,) when they can get hold of 

 one; killing them like a terrier dog, and casting or ejecting the hair and 

 bones in pellets, like the Owls. To this we may add the following fact related 

 by Dr. P. Ncill, of Cannonmills, near Edinburgh. This gentleman had a 

 pair of these birds tame, which he found devoured the young of the Moor-hen, 

 (Gallirmla chloropus, Lath.) which built and reared their young on an old 

 willow stump, that had fallen into the pond. 



The Heron is not at all particular as to its 'bill of fare' — toads, frogs^ 

 snakes, mice, fish of all sorts and sizes; (we once watched a Heron standing 

 in a shallow part of a lake, seize and devour, in the short space of half-an- 

 hour, six good sized carp,) water newts, and the roots of aquatic plants, as 

 Caltha imlustris, L., also the flowers of Sparganvum, Swn. Anciently the 

 Heron was held in great estimation as food, (as also the Crane,) being one 

 of the favourite dishes at the royal and noble tables; and valued at the same 

 rate as the Peacock, (Pavo cristatus,) and the Pheasant, (Pliasianus coJchicus.} 

 Some epicures of the present day are said to consider them a rare and dainty dish. 



Charminster, Dorset, March 10th., 1851. 



THE PROGRESSIVENESS OF INSTINCT. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATURALIST. 



While preparing my contribution to your last number, on the subject of the 

 Moor-hen, an old thought recurred, that the construction of the nest in the 



