GREY HERON. 447 



light stick. Three of them are about two and a half yards 

 distant from each other. They are all perfectly accessible to 

 any person walking over the ground ; but, fortunately, the 

 birds are not disturbed when breeding. The birds are said 

 to frequent the site on stormy days throughout the year, 

 flying to it when the wind blows strong upon the neigh- 

 bouring shore." 



After the breeding season the Herons disperse, and are 

 to be seen along the sea-coast and in the estuaries, as well 

 as here and there by the rivers and inland ponds or lakes. 

 On the east coast of Scotland the estuaries of the Findhorn, 

 Ythan, South Esk, Tay, and Forth are favourite places of 

 resort ; but even on the exposed rocky coasts they are here 

 and there to be met with, and in some places in great 

 numbers. Thus, about two miles north of Stonehaven, I 

 have repeatedly seen more than twenty in a single small bay 

 at low water. It is to this tract that the following note by 

 my friend Mr. Thomas Jamieson refers : — 



" Several Herons frequent this part of the coast, searching 

 for their food amongst the low weed-covered rocks and pools 

 of water left by the receding tide. In autumn, when they 

 appear to be most numerous, I have seen a hundred and 

 twenty or more together, their numbers being made up 

 probably in great measure by young birds of the year. 

 When disturbed from one spot, they betake themselves round 

 some corner of the rocks to a neighbouring bay, flying 

 heavily along, generally within gunshot of the water's surface. 

 During high tide they rest on detached rocks a short distance 

 from the land, and occasionally on the face of some of the 

 heughs (or high sea-banks). When coming from the inland 

 parts they keep at a considerable height, moving along with 

 sedate and regular flight till they pass the heughs a short 

 distance, and then strike slantingly down to the rocks. I 

 do not think they keep in company on these occasions, 

 though two or three may be seen at once coming from the 

 same direction. I have seen them make their descent to the 

 rocks by an awkward zigzag movement. Though they gene- 

 rally fly high, yet, when coming from the sea, in the evening 

 more especially, they will sometimes pass within shot of the 



