104 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



under water. It is said that they assist each otlier in the 

 capture of large fish ; but Morris doubts this, and says he 

 is not inclined to think tliat there is much disinterested 

 generosity in the nature of the cormorant. 



THE HERO^'S. 



The British species are classified as follows : — 



Family — A rdciJcE. 



Genus — 1. Ardea. A. cincrca. Heron. 



2. Botaurus. B. stcl/an's. Bittern. 



Herox. — This well-known British bird is resident, and 

 at one time was fairly common, but fish preservers 

 have greatly thinned its numbers of late years. Upi)er 

 surface blue grey, with two white lines on head, and a long 

 crest, divided into two, of a deep black colour; the flights 

 and tail feathers are deep blue black ; the under jtarts white, 

 with elongated black lines on the sides of the throat and 

 breast, in which latter situation, as well as on the saddle 

 and tlanks, the plumes are long and lanceolated, like those on 

 a cock ; the long legs arc greenish, and the bill yellow. 

 The female resembles the male, but is of duller tinting. 

 The young are grej'er, and do not attain their adult 

 colours until the}^ arc two years old. Length, 3 feet 2.J 

 inches ; the wings expand to a width of 5 feet. 



Bittern. — Unlike the last species, which is resident all 

 the year round in Britain, this bird is usually met with 

 during the winter only ; though instances are on record of 

 its having remained to breed ; bill greenish yellow, with 

 darker point; from its base proceed two black lines — techni- 

 cally, moustaches ; eye yellow; head, which is Hat, black, 

 with tinge of purple and metallic green ; the feathers at 

 the back of the head are brown, barred with black and 



