498 THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



a pure white ; the occiput sides of the breast and flanlvs arc deep bhick. On the front of 

 the neck arc hirge longitudinal black and ash spots. The back and wings are very pure 

 bluish ash ; the bill is a deep yellow ; the iris yellow ; the naked sldn of the eye bluish 

 purple ; the feet are bro^vn, but of a lively red towards the feathered part. The length 

 is three feet and upwards. 



Deadly feuds sometimes take plaee between the herons and the rooks, arising in a 

 disjjute for the possession of the nest-trees. One of them occurred at Dallam Tower in 

 Westmoreland, originating in the felling of the fine old oaks occupied by the herons, and 

 their consequent attempt vipon the grove in the tenure of the rooks. The herons had 

 the best of the fray for two successive seasons, and at length a sort of peace was made 

 between the two combatants ; the herons and the rooks severally setting up their nest on 

 a particular part of the now only remaining grove, and leaving the other moiety to their 

 former antagonists. 



Some singular facts are related by P. Neill, Esq., of Canonmills, near Edinburgh, 

 relating to these birds in a state .of partial domestication. That gentleman says : — 

 " The common heron, a male, which was winged on Coldingham ]\[uir in autumn, 

 1821, when a young bird, and given to mo in 1822, by Mr. John Wilson, of the 

 College, has since resided in my garden at Canonmills, and is now so tame that 

 he often follows rae, expecting a piece of cheese, which he relishes. Four years 

 ago, Mr. Allan, of Lauriston, sent mo a young female, which had been taken during 

 a severe storm. She soon associated with the elder bird. In summer, 1828, she 

 laid three or four eggs on the top of the wall next to the millpond. She then laid one 

 or two on the flower border below the wall, and close by the box-edging, where some 

 eggs were broken by the birds suddenly starting off when alarmed by strangers walking 

 in the garden. We supplied their place by some bantam eggs, but only one heron egg 

 at last remained. Alas I the poor hen having strajed to the margin of the mill-pond, 

 was shot by some thoughtless yoxmg man with a fowling-piece. The cock continued to 

 sit for several days after the hen, but at last tired. He used to sit when she went off for 

 food. During the whole time of pairing the cock was very bold, raising his feathers and 

 snapping his bill whenever any one approached." 



Another fact is thus stated on the same authorit}' : " A largo old willow-tree had fallen 

 down into the pond, and at the extremity, which is partlj' sunk in the sludge, and 

 continues to vegetate, v/ater-hons breed. The old cock heron swims out to the nest, and 

 takes the young if he can. He has to swim ten or twelve feet, where the water is 

 between two and three feet deep. His motion through the water is slow, but his carriage 

 is stately. I have seen him fell a rat by one blow on the back of Ihe head, when tlic raf 

 was munching at his dish of fish." 



AVe give an illustration of the bird called the Scolopaceous Heron, from its resemblance, 

 in certain respects, to a family hereafter to be noticed ; and another of the head and foot 

 of one genua, denominated Nijctora.r. Six other species of this genus are known, 

 occurring in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America ; and they have been found in Manilla, 

 New South Wales, and Terra del Fuego. 



THE GREAT MHITE HERON.* 



This tall and elegant bird principally inhabits tlie regions of the soutli, being found 

 from Guiana, and probably beyond the line, to New York. 1 1 enters the teriitories of 

 the Uniled Stales late in l'V;bruary. Tlu? iiigh inland ))arts it rarely or never visits; its 

 favoiirilc li units being vast, inundated swamps, rice-iieldw, the low, marshy shores of 



• A idea Ejirefta 



