GREY HERON. 451 



large, composed externally of sticks, but lined with rushes 

 and fine fibrous roots. Five eggs were laid, and in due time 

 hatched. In passing, a few days afterwards, he discovered 

 the mangled remains of the parent bird, she having fallen a 

 prey to some prowling fox ; and found the young ones 

 huddled together in the bottom of the nest, as cold as any 

 stone. Of the obstinacy with which this species adheres to 

 certain localities, we have an illustration before us. Part of 

 the margin of the lake is abrupt, rocky, and covered with 

 scrubs and underwood. In one place are a few low firs and 

 cedars, which were surrounded with a dense thicket. Well, 

 although the woodman cleared away the brushes that sur- 

 rounded the trees on which some Herons had their nests, 

 and plashed up nearly to the branches on which they were, 

 yet the birds nestled on, and reared their young. 



" The Heron is very voracious. In 1828, I saw one 

 opened at Loughborough, which had in its gullet a full- 

 grown water-rat. With us it is not numerous, although far 

 from being uncommon. Being very destructive to fish, it 

 falls a prey to gamekeepers, and is often found among the 

 trophies which ornament the gable-end of the woodman's 

 cottage, or the side of the village barn. There, in company 

 with the pretty Kestril, the Barn Owl, and the Carrion 

 Crow, its carcase bleaches in the sun and rain." 



This species is generally distributed in Britain, and in 

 winter rather plentifully even in the northern islands of 

 Scotland, where, however, I never heard of its breeding. 

 Unless when occupied with the cares of rearing its young, it 

 seems to shift about from one place to another, and, in par- 

 ticular circumstances, considerable numbers may be seen 

 together. It is impossible, I think, to determine whether 

 individuals visit this country from the continent or on mi- 

 grations; but the number and extent of the heronries in 

 Scotland and England suffice to account for the numerous 

 Herons seen dispersed over the island in winter. It is at 

 least equally common in Ireland. Mr. Thompson states 

 that, " owing to the many suitable bays around the coast, 

 and the prevalence of water in the island, it is particularly 

 abundant." 



