398 AUCUPATORES. STALKERS. 



hours in the water, watching for their prey. Most of them 

 are shy and suspicious, either removing- by flight from the 

 approach of man, or concealing themselves among the herbage. 

 They form very large, generally slovenly and flat nests, which 

 they place on the ground or on trees, and lay few, from two 

 to five, light-coloured eggs. The young, at first scantily 

 clothed with down, remain in the nest or its neighbourhood, 

 until able to fly. 



The Herons, Ardeinae, the typical birds of this order, are 

 in external aspect very distinct from all the other Grallato- 

 rial tribes; but the Tantalinse, the only other birds belonging 

 to it, have some affinity to the Tringinse, and resemble the 

 Curlews. The species are much more numerous in tropical 

 than in temperate countries ; but even in the colder some 

 occur, at least in the breeding season. Most of them are 

 more or less migratory, and some perform long journeys. 

 Very few are permanently resident in Britain ; but, with 

 stragglers, we make up a pretty considerable list. 



