34 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



appear to be redoubled during the night ; for I 

 have frequently disturbed herons when riding by 

 moonlight among the low grounds near the river, 

 where I have seldom seen them during the day, 

 and several cottagers in the neighbourhood of 

 Parham have assured me that their shrill cry may 

 be heard at all hours of the night, during the 

 summer season, as they fly to and fro overhead, 

 on their passage between the heronry and the 

 open country. 



The history or genealogy of the progenitors of 

 this colony is remarkable. They were originally 

 brought from Coity Castle, in Wales, by Lord 

 Leicester's steward, in James the First's time, to 

 Penshurst, in Kent, the seat of Lord de Lisle, 

 where their descendants continued for more than 

 two hundred years ; from thence they migrated to 

 Michelgrove, about seventy miles from Penshurst, 

 and eight from Parham ; here they remained for 

 nearly twenty years, until the proprietor of the 

 estate disposed of it to the late Duke of Norfolk, 

 who, having purchased it, not as a residence, but 

 with the view of increasing the local property in 

 the neighbourhood of Arundel, pulled down the 

 house, and felled one or two of the trees on which 

 the herons had constructed their nests. The mi- 

 gration commenced immediately, but appears to 

 have been gradual ; for three seasons elapsed be- 



