2 24 ST0J?7jES about BIRDS. 



The herons are birds of passage, and their going and coming depend 

 on the supply of food they can obtain. They are nowhere very abundant ; 

 but are met with in almost every part of the northern and temperate regions 

 of the old world. 



They build their nests in companies, like the rooks, in lofty trees, in the 

 neighbourhood of streams and rivers, and such places are called heronries. 

 They are very fond of the society of the ravens, although the raven often 

 returns their friendship by carrying off their eggs. The falcons and the 

 weasels are also great enemies to the young birds. The heron leaves the 

 care of hatching the brood to his partner, but when this task is over he assists 

 in providing the family v/ith food. When the young birds are strong enough 

 to get their own living, the parents drive them away, and tliey take each 

 a separate course, and begin the world on their own account. 



Their food consists of fresh-water fish, especially of the young of the 

 carp or the trout. The heron is very fond of eels, and catches them in a very 

 dexterous manner. We can tell you a little story to show that in one case 

 he did not proceed with his usual skill and caution. 



There are, we should tell you, still many heronries in different parts of 

 England, and in the grounds of noblemen, where some stream meanders 

 through the domain. 



In one of these places, at Carlton, in Nottinghamshire, a heron was 

 standing as usual, patiently waiting for his prey, when a fine large eel came 

 in sight. Down went the prong-like bill of the heron, but, in his eagerness, 

 he plunged it too near the head of the eel. The long, snaky body was left 

 at liberty, and it twisted itself round and round the neck of the bird until 

 it strangled him. The heron was found the next day, dead on the bank, with 

 the eel, also dead, twisted round his neck. The owner of the mansion had 

 the two creatures, just as they were, preserved as curiosities, and as such 

 they are still to be seen. 



In the winter fish are not so plentiful, and the heron has to be satisfied 

 with frogs and snails and worms, and even the duck-weed that floats upon 

 the pond. At these times he becomes very thin and poor, and is nothing 

 but feathers and bones. 



In the old days of falconry, hawking the heron was considered the 

 highest feat that could be accomplished. The powerful wings ot the bird 

 enable it to rise so high that it put the powers of the falcon to the test. That 



