40 WADING BIRDS. 



HERONS. (Ardea, Lin. Temm.) 



With the bill long, and acuminated into a sharp point, being- 

 robust, straight, and compressed to an edge, the ridge rounded; the 

 upper mandible faintly channelled. Nostrils, lateral, basal, placed 

 in the furrow of the mandible, and half closed by a membrane. Lores 

 and Orbits naked. Feet long and slender ; a naked space above the 

 knee ; middle toe united to the outer one by a short membrane ; the 

 interior divided ; hind toe articulated internall}', and on a level with 

 the rest. A''ails long, compressed and sharp, that of the middle toe 

 serrated internally. The tcings of moderate dimensions, obtuse ; 

 the 1st primary nearly equal with the 2d and 3d, which are longest. 

 The tail short and rounded, consisting of 10 or 12 feathers. 



Birds of this genus are found dispersed over the whole earth, and 

 many approach to each other by the slightest shades of distinction, 

 having as it were their representatives in different quarters of the 

 world. Like the Cranes, whose manners they in a great degree 

 possess, they perform extensive journies, migrating in large and mar- 

 shalled troops : this gregarious habit also continues through the season 

 of reproduction, man}^ individuals of this, and even of different 

 species, nesting together in the same swamp or forest, though they 

 are all strictly monogamous, the female hatching, while the male 

 watches and supplies her with food, but both unite in the charge of 

 nursing and rearing the very imbecile young, which remain in the 

 nest until they are fully fledged. Their nests are usually made with 

 sticks, and lined with wool ; but if they chance to find a nest, like 

 that of the rook, suitable for their purpose, they take no pains to build 

 a new one. Their habits, however, like those of amphibious quad- 

 rupeds, are gloomy and voracious, and their instinct scarcely superior 

 to that of the fish and reptiles on which they principally feed. Dur- 

 ing the day they generally remain in indolent repose, awaking only 

 to the calls of hunger, chiefly at the approach of evening, or the 

 setting in of twilight. Their raucous and discordant cries are now 

 heard at solemn intervals ; or, as they traverse the aerial space, at a 

 great elevation, towards the haunts of their prey. Their flight is 

 ample, slow, and graceful, with the neck bent backwards, and the 

 head in indolent ease, still resting against the back ; the long legs 

 stretched out behind, appear like a tail, and probably answers the 

 purpose of a rudder in directing the motions. Their favorite resorts 

 are the uncultivated borders of lakes, rivers, marshes, and gloomy 



